A
|
| Aimer |
A military driver |
| All Clips |
Swear a dit/story is true |
| Anchor Faced |
To be totally intoxicated by the Royal Navy |
| Ankle biters |
Children |
| The Andrew |
The Royal Navy |
B
|
| Bang-box |
The gun turret (on big ships) |
| Bag-rat |
Packed lunch invariably containing salt & vinegar crisps and a can of bitter lemon! |
| Bandy |
A Musician |
| Bandy |
The Bandmaster of a Band |
| Banjo |
A sandwich, usually egg or bacon |
| Banyan |
An impromptu beach party |
| Barracks |
A military camp and the Royal Marines mess deck on board ship |
| Belay |
To cease doing something, cancel what you were told |
| Bezzy |
Best as in “Bezzy oppo” |
| Bish |
Chaplain or Padre |
| Bite |
To fool somebody into doing or believing something stupid |
| Bivvy |
Bivouac. A temporary shelter in the field, usually made from branches, foliage and a personal poncho |
| Bimble |
To walk at a casual pace |
| Bin liner job |
Very ugly gronk who requires a bin liner to cover her entire body |
| Black maskers |
Thick black masking tape that is the all in one answer to service DIY |
| Bone |
A stupid thing to do or a stupid person |
| Bonedome |
Helmet (climbing or Kevlar) |
| Bootneck |
A Royal Marine |
| Boss |
The Director of Music |
| Brag-rags |
Medal ribbons |
| Brown job |
Army |
| Bubbly Bosun |
One who collected and issued the Rum |
| Bundy |
A curry or Indian meal/restaurant |
| Bugles |
A Bugle Major, a collection of Musical Instruments |
| Bunting tosser |
Signaller of any rank |
| Buzz |
A rumour, sometimes true though usually not |
| BZ |
Bravo Zulu – well done usually sent on a signal |
C
|
| Chad valley |
Describes a piece of equipment that is prone to failure |
| Chad as yer dad |
See Chad Valley |
| Chateau Crappers |
Wine, preferably cheap, always nasty |
| Charlie-G |
The Carl Gustav 84mm anti-tank weapon |
| Chicken on a raft |
Egg on toast |
| Chief Loafer |
Chaplain or Padre |
| Chinese Wedding Cake |
Rice pudding |
| Chins |
Hard luck |
| Chin straps |
Tired, “I’m on my chinstraps” |
| Chippy |
A carpenter |
| Chit |
Request form |
| Chop-chop |
Move quickly |
| Church key |
A bottle opener |
| Civvy |
Civilian |
| Club swinger |
PTI (Physical Training Instructor) |
| Cockie |
Cockroach |
| Colonel / Colonel Gaddafi |
The NAAFI shop |
| Colours / Colour Stripey |
Colour Sergeant |
| Corps pissed |
To be totally intoxicated by the Royal Marines |
| Crabby |
Dirty |
| Crash out |
Go to sleep |
D
|
| Damager |
NAAFI manager, always a civvy, even in war-time |
| Dark and Dirty |
Pusser’s rum and Coke |
| Devil Dodger |
Chaplain or Padre |
| Dhoby – Dhobi |
To have a wash or wash your clothes |
| Dhoby dust |
Washing powder |
| Dhoby marks |
Rank badges |
| Dhoby run |
A trip to the launderette |
| Dhoby waller |
Person who gets pinged to do the Dhoby |
| Dig out, Dig out Blind |
To make an all out effort |
| Dipped |
To miss out on something: To dip out |
| Dip stick |
Idiot |
| Dit |
Story |
| Divs |
An attractive woman (Divine) |
| Divs or Divisions |
A Naval Parade |
| Doc |
A Doctor, Medical assistant or any sick bay staff |
| Dockyard Cavalry |
Ships Marines |
| Dockyard omelette/Pizza |
Vomit |
| Dockyard tortoise |
Cornish pastie (oggie) |
| Dog watch |
Two 2 hour watches to equalise the roster, also a derogatory term for short length of service |
| Doofer |
A bit that goes on something |
| Double-bagger |
A particularly ugly woman or man: Put a bag on your own head in case the one on theirs falls off |
| Drip |
To moan incescently, usually a sign that the troop are happy |
| Dropping a sprog |
To give birth to a baby |
| Drummy |
The Drum Major of a band |
| Duff |
any pudding |
| Duffer |
Someone who is Bone/stupid |
| Duty Beauty |
Duty person |
E
|
| Egyptian PT |
A nap in the afternoon where you get into bed and adopt the position of a Pharaoh |
| Endex |
the order given to end an exercise or end it early, also used to halt a conversation, lesson or activity |
| Eric the red |
Rust on a weapon |
| Essence |
Gorgeous woman or man |
| Eyebrows |
Offering something as Genuine and offering your eyebrows to be shaved off if you are found to be lying. “Drummy wants you”, “Don’t lie”, “Eyebrows that he wants you” |
F
|
| Fang farrier |
Dentist |
| Fast back |
Taxi |
| Fat knacker |
A not very fit person |
| Father |
Ship’s captain |
| Flag flapper |
Signaller |
| Flannel |
Waffle, Bull |
| Flapping |
Panicking, (Flapping around like a headless chicken) |
| Flat |
Open space between mess decks on board ship |
| Foo Foo |
Pusser’s foot powder |
G
|
| Galley |
The Junior Ranks Dinning Hall |
| Gannet |
Any individual with a large appetite for food |
| Gash |
Rubbish |
| Gash-hand |
One who is left over after the working party has been detailed off |
| Gen |
The truth, genuine |
| Gen dit |
Genuine story |
| Gig |
A band engagement |
| Gizzit |
Any item that might be worth having that someone else no longer needs |
| Gizzit |
Presents brought back from a trip “Oh, I like that… gizzit” |
| Globe & Buster |
The Corps Crest also the journal of the Royal Marines The Globe and Laurel |
| Gobshyte |
Someone who is vocal and often speaks out of turn with little knowledge on the subject |
| Gobbling rods |
Knife fork and spoon |
| Goffers |
1) Cold fizzy drinks 2) A big wave 3) to punch someone |
| God Squad |
Chaplain or Padre |
| Gongs |
Medals |
| Gonk bag |
sleeping bag |
| Gonking |
Nodding off, snoozing |
| Go Outside |
To leave the Corps |
| Gopping |
Something that is really horrible “That kebab was gopping, it made me ill” |
| Grease Pit |
Washing up duty |
| Green |
Naive, gullible, not very knowledgeable |
| Green lid |
Green Beret |
| Green rub |
rotten job/duty, to be seen off |
| Grey funnel line |
Ships of the Royal Navy |
| Grippo |
Someone who latches on to a free run ashore, drink or a meal. Usually in a foreign port |
| Gronk |
An ugly woman |
| Grot |
Your room in the accommodation |
| Gucci |
A piece of kit that is really good and new |
| Gulpers |
A quantity of drink somewhere between ‘Sippers’ and ‘Sandy Bottoms’ |
| Guz |
Plymouth, from the WW1 radio ID letters for the port GUZ |
H
|
| Hanging out |
Mental or physical tiredness, exhausted |
| Hank / Hank Marvin |
Starving |
| Harry |
Used before certain words to increase their magnitude e.g. “Harry Icers”, “Harry Roughers” |
| Heads |
Toilets, from the old sailing ships where the toilets were directly beneath the figure head |
| Honkers |
Hong Kong |
| Honking |
Very dirty |
| Hoofing |
Fantastic, brilliant |
| Horse box |
The Sergeants Mess on board ship |
I
|
| Icers |
Very cold |
| In the rattle |
In serious trouble |
J
|
| Jack / Jolly Jack |
A sailor |
| Jack dusty |
Royal Navy supply rating |
| Jenny |
A female sailor (comes from Jenny Wren (WRNS)) |
| Jimmy the one |
First Lieutenant |
| Joe |
RM commanding officer on board ship |
| Joss Man |
The Master At Arms |
K
|
| KFS |
Knife fork & spoon |
| Kit muster |
A personal kit inspection, also describes vomiting |
L
|
| Lash up |
To treat someone, also describes a cock-up |
| Limers |
Lime juice or any none fizzy cordial |
| Loafing |
Hanging around aimlessly, to leave something out that should be put away |
| Lovats |
Royal Marines number 2 uniform |
M
|
| Make and mend |
Early finish on Wednesday or Friday afternoons |
| Mankey |
Dirty |
| Minging |
Very drunk |
| Mortal |
To be very drunk, “I was mortal last night” |
| Mudhook |
Ship’s Anchor |
| MUFTI |
Civilian clothing |
N
|
| Neaters |
Undiluted pusser’s rum, difficult or hard |
| Nelson’s blood |
Rum |
| Nelson’s eye |
Jammie Dodger biscuits |
| Neptune’s Bodyguard |
Ships Marines |
| Ninja |
Something that is very difficult or hard, A Ninja PT session |
| Nod |
A recruit in training |
| Nutty |
Sweets and chocolate |
O
|
| Oggin |
The sea or any stretch of water |
| Old Joe |
Captain in charge of RM detachment on board ship |
| Old man |
Captain of the ship |
| One eyed steak |
A Kipper |
| Oppo |
Friend, Buddy |
| Outside |
Life after leaving the Corps |
P
|
| Paraffin pigeon |
Helicopter |
| Party |
Girlfriend |
| Pash |
Girlfriend/Boyfriend |
| Pavement pizza |
Vomit |
| Percy |
Percy pongo, someone from the Army |
| Phys |
PT of any form |
| Picturise |
To put in the picture, informed, to receive an explanation |
| Pig |
Officer, (see also Rupert, Rodney) |
| Piglets |
Midshipmen |
| Pig sty |
Officers Mess |
| Pinged |
To be spotted, to be picked for a particularly dirty job |
| Pipe |
Used on naval ships in place of the bugle, also the tannoy system on board ship |
| Piso |
Careful with money, tight |
| Pit |
Bed, bed space or bunk |
| Planters |
Polo/smart shirt and trousers |
| Pompey |
Portsmouth |
| Pongo |
Anyone from the Army, ‘Where the army goes the pong goes |
| Port & Starboard Scran Spanners |
Knives and Forks |
| Poltice Walloper |
Medical Assistant |
| Power nap |
A short intense sleep when a short time is allowed i.e. on a coach to a gig, after or before a field exercise |
| Proffed |
Goods acquiring by dubious methods from the establishment rather than another marine |
| Pusser |
The Royal Navy/Royal Marines |
| Pussers threes |
3 pack of biscuits |
| Pusser’s charger/chariot |
service issue bike |
| Pusser’s planks |
service issue Skis |
Q
|
| Quaffer |
Posh sounding officer |
| Queens |
Used to convince someone that you are not getting them on a bite |
R
|
| Rabbits |
Presents or souvenirs |
| Racing snake |
A very fast runner |
| Redders |
Very hot |
| Rembrant / Rembranted |
To be in the picture / put in the picture |
| R.M.R. |
Royal Marines Reserves, see rubber daggers |
| Rock ape |
A member of the RAF Regiment |
| Rodney |
Officer |
| Roughers |
Stormy weather |
| Rubber dagger |
A Royal Marines Reservist |
| Rug rats |
Children |
| Rum Rat |
One who enjoyed his rum, a lot! |
| Run Ashore |
To go out for a few drinks, a night out |
| Rupert |
Officer, (see Pig, Rodney) |
S
|
| Sad on |
To be unhappy or annoyed |
| Safeguard |
Swear a dit/story is true |
| Sandy bottoms |
To drain the whole glass/can or bottle |
| Scab Lifter |
Medical Assistant |
| Scran |
Food or a meal (Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner) |
| Scran bag |
A scruffy individual who looks like his clothes have never been ironed |
| Scran bag |
Also a collection point for loose bits of kit on a ship. A small fine is paid before retrieval |
| Sea daddy |
An experienced Marine or sailor who looks after a younger recruit to show him/her the ropes |
| Sea Dust |
Salt |
| Secure |
To finish for the day or after a watch |
| Sick Bay |
Royal Navy Medical Centre |
| Sick Bay Ranger |
Someone who spends a lot of time off sick |
| Sin bosun |
Chaplain or Padre |
| Singers |
Singapore |
| Sippers |
A sip of a drink |
| Skivver |
One who hides from work. A workshy person |
| Sky Pilot |
Chaplain or Padre |
| Slide |
Margarine / Butter |
| Slug |
Sleeping bag |
| Sneaky Beaky |
A member of the SBS or Special Forces |
| Snotty |
Historic nickname for a midshipman in the Royal Navy |
| Snurgle |
To sneak or creep on out of sight |
| Sods opera |
A show that is put on by the ships company or unit to entertain themselves |
| Soup Jockey |
Officers Steward or Ward Room Attendant |
| Spin |
To tell or explain as in ‘Spin a dit’ |
| Spithead Pheasants |
Kippers |
| Sprog |
A child |
| Standeasy |
A tea break taken during the morning and the afternoon |
| Sticks or Sticky Blue |
Royal Marines bugler |
| Strawberry/Raspberry Mivvy |
Civilian |
| Stripey |
Sergeant |
| Swamp |
To wet something (Swamp the bed, Swamp the table), to urinate – go for a swamp |
| Sweating neaters |
To be worried |
T
|
| Three badger |
A Marine with 3 good conduct stripes |
| Threaders |
To be seriously upset |
| TUBBIN |
Thumb up bum brain in neutral |
U
|
| Uckers |
A game loosely based on ludo |
| Up Homers |
Invited round to someone’s house for a meal or drinks |
V
|
W
|
| Waggon |
A lorry |
| Wardroom |
Officers mess on board ship or in a Naval establishment |
| Weather guesser |
The met officer on board ship, also known as Professor Fog |
| Wet |
A drink |
| WREN |
A female sailor |
| WREN Repellent |
Aftershave |
| Winger |
A close friend |
| Wooly pully |
The green issue jumper |
X
|
Y
|
| Yaffle |
To eat |
| Yaffling irons/spanners |
Knife, fork and spoon |
| Yeti |
A spectacular crash while skiing or to fall over |
| Yodel in a bucket |
Vomit also Pavement pizza, dockyard omelette and technicolor yawn |
| Yomp |
To force march with a heavy load |
| Yonks |
A long time. |
| Yoyo |
A young officer in training |
Z
|
| Zap |
To shoot or be shot |
| Zeds/(ZZZZZZZZ’s) |
To get some sleep |
| Zulu |
Greenwich meantime, also Z company, 45 Commando Royal Marines |
