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Bunting Tosser
'Bunting tosser' or 'Bunts' is an informal term used in the Royal Navy to describe the sailors who hoist signal flags. Although dating from the period of signalling by flags, it has survived as a general term for naval signallers. Wireless operators may also be termed 'sparkers'. Bunting is now a commonplace term for any small decorative flags or streamers strung on a line, but its original etymology is more specific as the worsted Worsted ( or ) is a high-quality type of wool yarn, the fabric made from this yarn, and a yarn weight category. The name derives from Worstead (from Old English ''Wurðestede'', "enclosure place"), a village in the English county of Norfolk. T ... cloth used for flags in the Navy. The term doesn't appear in '' Covey-Crump'', although that is a far from infallible source. Covey Crump on Brass Monkeys Although the naval term, 'bunting tosser' is known across the services, and may be used as a jocular insult amongst Army signallers, its use impl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Signalmen On HMS Pandora, Early 20th Century
A signalman is a rank who makes signals using flags and light. The role has evolved and now usually uses electronic communication equipment. Signalmen usually work in rail transport networks, armed forces, or construction (to direct heavy equipment such as cranes). Transport occupations {{transport-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom of England, English and Kingdom of Scotland, Scottish kings from the early Middle Ages, medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against Kingdom of France, France. The modern Royal Navy traces its origins to the English Navy of the early 16th century; the oldest of the British Armed Forces, UK's armed services, it is consequently known as the Senior Service. From the early 18th century until the World War II, Second World War, it was the world's most powerful navy. The Royal Navy played a key part in establishing and defending the British Empire, and four Imperial fortress colonies and a string of imperial bases and coaling stations secured the Royal Navy's ability to assert naval superior ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
International Maritime Signal Flags
International maritime signal flags are various flags used to communicate with ships. The principal system of flags and associated codes is the International Code of Signals. Various navies have flag systems with additional flags and codes, and other flags are used in special uses, or have historical significance. Usage There are various methods by which the flags can be used as signals: * A series of flags can spell out a message, each flag representing a letter. * Individual flags have specific and standard meanings;AB Nordbok. "The Lore of Ships", page 138. New York: Crescent Books, 1975. for example, diving support vessels raise the "A" (alfa) flag indicating their inability to move from their current location because they have a diver underwater and to warn other vessels to keep clear to avoid endangering the diver(s) with their propellers. * One or more flags form a code word whose meaning can be looked up in a code book held by both parties. An example is the Popham num ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vexillology
Vexillology ( ) is the study of the history, symbolism and usage of flags or, by extension, any interest in flags in general.Smith, Whitney. ''Flags Through the Ages and Across the World'' New York: McGraw-Hill, 1975. Print. A person who studies flags is a list of vexillologists, vexillologist, one who designs flags is a vexillographer, and the art of designing flags is called vexillography. A hobbyist or general admirer of flags is a vexillophile. Etymology The word vexillology is a synthesis of the Latin word (a kind of square flag which was carried by Roman cavalry) and the Greek suffix ("study"). History American scholar Whitney Smith is acknowledged for conceiving "vexillology" in 1957. He wrote, "While the use of flags goes back to the earliest days of human civilization, the study of that usage in a serious fashion is so recent that the term for it did not appear in print until 1959." Before this time, the study of flags was generally considered a part of heraldry, th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bunting (textile)
Bunting refers to decorative flags, wide streamers, or draperies made of fabric, or of plastic, paper or cardboard in imitation of fabric. Bunting is also a collection of flags, and the fabric used to make flags. The fabric was originally a specific type of lightweight worsted wool fabric, but can also be cotton. Description Bunting are festive or patriotic decorations made of fabric, or of plastic, paper or cardboard in imitation of fabric. Typical forms of bunting are strings of colorful triangular flags, lengths of fabric in the colors gathered and draped into swags or pleated into fan shapes, draperies, and wide streamers. The colors are often those of national flags. Bunting decorations are used on streets and buildings at special occasions and political events. The term ''bunting'' also refers to a collection of flags, and particularly those of a ship; the officer responsible for raising signals using flags is known as ''bunts'', a term still used for a ship's communica ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Worsted
Worsted ( or ) is a high-quality type of wool yarn, the fabric made from this yarn, and a yarn weight category. The name derives from Worstead (from Old English ''Wurðestede'', "enclosure place"), a village in the English county of Norfolk. That village, together with North Walsham and Aylsham, formed a manufacturing centre for yarn and cloth in the 12th century, when pasture enclosure and liming rendered the East Anglian soil too rich for the older agrarian sheep breeds. In the same period, many weavers from the County of Flanders moved to Norfolk. "Worsted" yarns/fabrics are distinct from woollens (though both are made from sheep's wool): the former is considered stronger, finer, smoother, and harder than the latter. Worsted was made from the long-staple pasture wool from sheep breeds such as Teeswaters, Old Leicester Longwool and Romney Marsh. Pasture wool was not carded; instead it was washed, gilled and combed (using heated long-tooth metal combs), oiled and finall ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brass Monkey (colloquial Expression)
"Cold enough to freeze the balls off (or ''on'') a brass monkey" (also "brass monkey weather") is a colloquial expression used by some English language, English speakers to describe extremely cold weather. The reference to the Testicle, testes (as the term ''balls'' is commonly understood to mean) of the brass monkey appears to be a 20th-century variant on the expression, prefigured by a range of references to other body parts, especially the nose and tail. History During the 19th and 20th centuries, small monkeys cast from the alloy brass were very common tourist souvenirs from China and Japan. They usually, but not always, came in a set of three representing the Three Wise Monkeys carved in wood above the Nikkō Tōshō-gū, Shrine of Tōshō-gū in Nikkō, Tochigi, Nikkō, Tochigi (prefecture), Tochigi, Japan. These monkeys were often cast with all three in a single piece. In other sets they were made singly. Old brass monkeys of this type are collectors' items. Michael Quinio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nautical Slang
Seamanship is the art, competence, and knowledge of operating a ship, boat or other craft on water. The'' Oxford Dictionary'' states that seamanship is "The skill, techniques, or practice of handling a ship or boat at sea." It involves topics and development of specialised skills, including navigation and international maritime law and regulatory knowledge; weather, meteorology and forecasting; watchkeeping; ship-handling and small boat handling; operation of deck equipment, anchors and cables; ropework and line handling; communications; sailing; engines; execution of evolutions such as towing; cargo handling equipment, dangerous cargoes and cargo storage; dealing with emergencies; survival at sea and search and rescue; and fire fighting. The degree of knowledge needed within these areas is dependent upon the nature of the work and the type of vessel employed by a seafarer. History Ship knowledge, ship stability and cargo operations Seamanship on a commercial level in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
