Sailor Speak of the Week – Jackass

Definition

Noun

1. A plug for a hawse pipe or hawse hole.
2. A type of heavily-built boat used in Newfoundland.

Origin

(First definition) Probably earlier than the 19th century. Reportedly used in the U.S. Navy as the nickname for a small feed bag.

Comments

Regarding the first definition, a canvas bag (resembling a feed bag for an animal) would be stuffed with oakum and used to plug a hawse pipe or hawse hole to keep seawater out.

References

Kemp, P. (1994). The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. Oxford University Press.

King, D., Hattendorf, J.B, & Estes, J.W. (1997). A Sea of Words: A Lexicon and Companion for Patrick O’Brian’s Seafaring Tales (2nd Ed.). Owl Books.

Rogers, J.G. (1985). Origins of Sea Terms. Mystic Seaport.