Spend even a few minutes around the U.S. Naval Academy and you’ll quickly realize the Navy has a language all its own.
From salty expressions passed down for centuries to colorful military slang still heard on ships today, the sea services are filled with fascinating sayings, stories, and traditions. Some phrases have become part of everyday American speech without most people even realizing they began aboard ships. Others remain distinctly Navy, understood best by midshipmen, sailors, Marines, and seasoned “old salts.”
And if you’re wondering what “get the gouge” actually means, you’re not alone. After one of our earlier blogs on Navy expressions, readers asked for more of the inside scoop, scuttlebutt, or (fittingly enough) more gouge.
So grab a seat, pour yourself some coffee (or grog, if we’re staying traditional), and let’s explore some of the most memorable nautical terms, military lingo, and legendary nautical words still sailing through Navy culture today.
Related: Plebe Summer: Learning the Navy Sailing Ropes
What Does “Get the Gouge” Mean?
In Navy culture, “the gouge” means the inside information: the trusted advice, practical knowledge, or unofficial wisdom that helps sailors and midshipmen succeed.
At the Naval Academy, plebes might get the gouge on inspections, schedules, or how to survive a difficult week. Fleet sailors pass down the gouge to younger crew members learning the ropes for the first time.
In many ways, the gouge is the Navy’s version of hard-earned experience shared from one generation to the next. Let’s get to it.
Nautical Words for the Ages
Bamboozle: Nowadays, this term refers to being fooled. However, when ships sailed before they were powered by steam or fuel, “bamboozle” was trickery of another sort. Crews would fly an ensign (flag) that was not their nationality or origin in order to trick another passing ship. As you might imagine, pirates were often the bamboozlers.
Batten Down the Hatches: This classic phrase began during the age of sail, when crews prepared ships for dangerous weather by securing hatch openings with wooden battens and heavy coverings. Today, “batten down the hatches” means preparing for trouble or getting ready for a challenge, whether it’s a storm at sea or a busy exam week at the Academy.
Binnacle List: No, this is not barnacle related, although many new sailors have understandably confused the two. Binnacle refers to the ship’s compass housing, which perches on the ship’s bridge. In past times, each morning the corpsmen would lay the ship’s sick list here for the captain, hence the sick list becoming known as the “binnacle list.”
Bitter End: We’ve all heard this phrase, but probably never the original story. Sailors call a turn of the line around a bitt (a wooden or iron post sticking through a ship’s deck), a bitter, and the end of the line that’s attached to the bitts was called “the bitter end.” These days, the Navy calls the end of any line “the bitter end.” The widely used phrase “there till the bitter end” shows the foolishness of someone following through with something without considering the possible fallout.
Bravo Zulu: One of the most recognizable Navy phrases today is Bravo Zulu. Originally derived from NATO naval signal flags, “Bravo Zulu” means “Well done.” Over time, it evolved into one of the most widely used expressions of praise across the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. You’ll hear Bravo Zulu after successful inspections, strong performances, difficult missions, or exceptional teamwork. It’s concise, professional, and unmistakably Navy.
Bully Boys: This term translates into “beef eating sailors,” and recurs often in Navy poems and shanties. Bully beef was the affectionate name for chewy beef jerky, an ever-popular foodstuff that also renamed the men that were forced to dine on it. This “beef” was also called “salt junk,” since its texture brought to mind the rope yarn used for caulking ship seams (see “chewing the fat” below).
Charley Noble: Legend has it an old merchant captain, Charles Noble, realized the galley’s smoke stack was copper and needed a daily polishing to stay in tip-top shape, so he ordered it be done regularly. Sailors started to refer to the stack itself as “Charley Noble.” Since then, for fun, Navy elders liked to send newbies to find Charley Noble, a source of unending entertainment for the higher-ups, when these green sailors went searching for a person and not a smoke stack.
Chewing the Fat: You might imagine how the type of beef that could survive long voyages would taste. It was tough and needed to be chewed for long periods before swallowing, sometimes for hours. Sailors would chew this meat like chewing gum. Thus, “chewing the fat” was born, a notion that easily aligned with time spent conversing.
Chow: Everyone knows chow time is time to eat. Whether it’s bully beef or (thankfully now) a much more palatable meal, sailors love chow time.
Davy Jones’ Locker: This legendary phrase refers to the bottom of the sea: the final resting place for lost ships and sailors. No one knows exactly who “Davy Jones” originally was, but maritime folklore transformed him into a ghostly figure associated with storms, shipwrecks, and bad luck at sea. Among all historic nautical words, this one may be the most mysterious.
Ditty Bag: Today’s recruits receive a ditty bag (or box) with a sewing kit, toiletry articles and other items like pens and paper. Originally, this was dubbed a "ditto bag" since it had at least two of everything: two needles, two spools of thread, two buttons, and more. Over time, "ditto" became "ditty.”
Jacob’s Ladder: These temporary ladders are constructed with rope or metal and are used to help board a ship. Named for the biblical Jacob that dreamt he climbed a ladder to the sky, “Jacob’s Ladders” started as a network of lines that brought the climber to the skysail in similar fashion.
Mind Your Ps and Qs: Many people are surprised to learn this phrase likely has naval roots. According to tradition, sailors drinking at dockside taverns would accumulate chalk marks under “P” for pints and “Q” for quarts. When payday arrived, they needed to carefully “mind their Ps and Qs” to settle their tabs correctly. Eventually, the phrase evolved into advice about behaving properly and paying attention to details.
Pollywogs and Shellbacks: Crossing the equator has long been a major naval tradition. Sailors who have never crossed are called “pollywogs.” After officially crossing the equator during a traditional ceremony overseen by “King Neptune,” they become “shellbacks.” The ritual, which dates back hundreds of years, remains one of the Navy’s most enduring customs and a favorite example of traditional military lingo.
Scuttlebutt: Few Navy words are more entertaining than “scuttlebutt.” Originally, a “butt” was a cask of drinking water aboard a ship. Sailors gathered there to talk, exchange rumors, and share news. Over time, “scuttlebutt” became synonymous with gossip and unofficial information. In today’s Navy, scuttlebutt still refers to rumors, insider talk, or unofficial chatter floating around the ship or the Yard.
Spinning a Yarn: Storytelling has always been part of life at sea. Originally, sailors performing repetitive rope work would pass the time by telling stories while literally spinning strands of rope into yarn. Today, “spinning a yarn” means telling a colorful story, especially one that may grow a little more dramatic each time it’s told.
Source: Origin of Navy Terminology
Related: Impress Your Midshipman with Your Knot Knowledge.
That’s part of what makes Navy terminology so fascinating. These aren’t just old sayings: They’re living pieces of maritime history.
The Language of the Yard
The Naval Academy remains one of the best places to experience authentic Navy culture firsthand. Between Academy traditions, ship models at the USNA Museum, and conversations with midshipmen and graduates, visitors quickly discover that Navy language reflects centuries of service and storytelling.
Come aboard! When you take a USNA tour, dine in our charming Yard restaurants, or make a purchase at the USNA Gift Shop or on Navyonline.com, you’re giving back to the Brigade, helping support the extracurricular activities like cultural arts, music, theater, and club sports that strengthen their bond.
Whether you’re a pollywog or a shellback, the next time you hear someone say “get the gouge,” “Bravo Zulu,” or “scuttlebutt,” you’ll know you’re hearing more than just colorful military slang. You’re hearing the echoes of generations of sailors who helped shape the Navy’s unique identity. Join us!
