Do You Know All of These WWII US Navy Slang Words?

"Chow" was often used by Navy personnel to denote food. For example, "I'm hungry, let's get some chow."

Rear Admirals and Vice Admirals are also known as Flag Officers. These are often some of the highest ranks in the Navy.

Another way of saying "room" was to use the word "compartment." For instance, "I'm quite tired, I'm going to retire in my compartment for the evening."

The "galley" referred to the kitchen. For example, "I have to talk to one of the cooks in the galley today."

For Navy personnel, a "field day" was a "clean-up" day for the ship. For example, "I'm not ready for field day today, there's so much cleaning to do."

A "line" referred simply to rope. For instance, "Hey, pass me that line over there so I can secure this."

Navy personnel referred to their beds as "racks." For example, "Hey, I'm gonna hit the rack, I'm so tired."

The clerk was called the "yeoman" with regards to the Navy. For instance "Hey, I'll be right back. I've got to have a talk with the yeoman."

To "swab" the deck means to mop the deck (to clean it). For instance, "I can't play cards with you right now, I have to swab the entire deck!"

A "sick bay" was slang for a hospital. For example, "I'm not feeling well today, I'm going to the sick bay."

Another way of saying "sleep" is by saying "sack out." For instance, "I'm going to sack out right now, it's been a long day."

The "head" simply means toilet. For instance, "I don't feel too well right now, I'm going to the head."

All members of the crew were included in the "complement." For instance, "We've got a pretty good complement on our ship this year."

A "conn" was a nickname for navigation post. For instance, "I'm stationed at the conn this morning, so I can't sleep in too much."

To avast something means to immediately halt or stop your current activity. For example, "Avast, eating sailors, the enemy strikes before us."

A "bogey" referred to a radar contact that was not known, or unidentified. For example, "I'm picking up a signal from a bogey."

"Brig" was another way of saying jail. For instance, "I was put in the brig for 3 weeks, and I'm so glad to finally be out."

A "chit" was also known as a receipt. For instance, "Hey I lost my chit from last week, can you help me find it?"

A "deep six" referred to throwing something overboard and into deep waters. This often made the item in question very difficult to retrieve.

The "dog watch" was the two-hour window to eat dinner. For example, "We've got dog watch coming up pretty soon."

The quarters of a high-ranking officer, like a Captain, were called the "cabin." For example, "I was told to report to the Captain's cabin this evening."

As its name implies, a chain locker was used to store chains and cables. For example, "Hey, can you go find me this type of chain from the chain locker?"

The CIC stood for Combat Information Center, and was also referred to as the Operations Room. For example, "I have a meeting this evening in the CIC."

To go faster than normal speed is to go "flank speed." For instance, "We have to push to flank speed, we have enemies behind us."

The "hatch" referred to the opening entrance of a door. For example, "This hatch right here leads to a secret tunnel."

A "midshipman" referred simply to a student officer. For example, "We've got a new midshipman today, so everyone behave yourselves."

The officer who was in charge of others was known as the OOD, or the "Officer of the Deck." For instance, "I'm not liking the new OOD, he's not very nice."

Candy was referred to as "pogey bait" by Navy personnel. For example, "Hey, you got any pogey bait on you? I'm starving."

The "scullery" was nicknamed as the place where one would wash dishes or clean clothes. For instance, "I have to report to the scullery today to wash hundreds of dishes!"

PX stands for "post exchange," which is a type of store on military grounds that sells a variety of goods. For example, "I have to go to the PX today to pick up some new shoes."

"Skivvies" is a nickname for underwear. For example, "I have to wash my dirty skivvies today."

A "watch" refers to a 4-hour shift that involves doing work in the context of Navy personnel. For example, "After my watch tonight, I'm going to shower and go right to sleep."

If someone says "wilco" after being told a certain set of instructions, it means that they will carry out these instructions. For example, "Wilco. I'll work overtime this week."

"Swabbies" and "white hats" are nicknames for "sailors." For example, "Looks like we've got some new swabbies in today."

A sea bag was often used to store clothes, accessories and the belongings of Navy personnel. For example, "This sea bag is so dirty, I should probably wash it."