Why does the Navy say hit the head?

"Hit the head" refers to using the bathroom. The origin of this phrase can be traced back to ancient sailing vessels. Sailors who needed to relieve themselves would make their way to a designated area under the deck near the bow or front of the ship.

Why does Navy call it the head?

At the front of the ship was the figure head: a carved wooden figure or bust fitted on the bow of the ship. Since the wind was blowing from the rear to the front, the “head” (or front) of the ship was the best place for sailors to relieve themselves. So, when the shipmates went to the toilet, they went to the head.

Where did the term going to the head come from?

With the wind blowing from the rear to the front as it does for sailing ships, the “head” (or front) of the ship was the best place for everyone for a sailor to relieve himself. So, when the crew went potty, they went to the head of the ship…and the name stuck.

What does the military call a bathroom in the head?

The Army and Air Force use the term 'latrine' when referring to a toilet or bathroom. The Marine Corps and the Coast Guard use the term 'head' when referring to a bathroom.

How did pirates poop on ships?

Ships of the line frequently included systems of pipes, septic tanks and even primitive forms of flush toilets.

Time to Hit the Head

Why is a toilet called a John?

At one point in time these names began to be used for describing a small, smelly restroom area inside of a house. Only the very wealthy had jakes/jacks inside of their homes– most others were located somewhere outside. The name “John” was later derived from “Jake” and “Jack.”

Why does the Navy call a bathroom a head?

"Head" in a nautical sense referring to the bow or fore part of a ship dates to 1485. The ship's toilet was typically placed at the head of the ship near the base of the bowsprit, where splashing water served to naturally clean the toilet area.

What is a bathroom called on a ship?

The head (pl. heads) is a ship's toilet. The name derives from sailing ships in which the toilet area for the regular sailors was placed at the head or bow of the ship.

Why do sailors say 2 6?

"Two, six, heave" is a phrase used to coordinate seamen's pulling. As used by sailors, the person at the front of the team will typically call out the "two, six" part of the chant. During this phase all members move their hands up the line ready to pull.

Why is it called a poop deck?

We quote verbatim: “The name originates from the French word for stern, la poupe, from Latin puppis. Thus the poop deck is technically a stern deck, which in sailing ships was usually elevated as the roof of the stern or “after” cabin, also known as the “poop cabin”.

How do soldiers go to the bathroom in war?

Porta-Johns. Yes, we have "Porta-sh*tters" located on the frontlines. For the most part, they're located on the larger FOBs. To keep these maintained, allied forces pay local employees, who live nearby, to pump the human discharge out of the poop reservoirs.

What do you call a female sailor?

If you are talking about females on yachts or small craft, then sailor. He is a sailor, she is a sailor. In merchant ships the generic term Seafarer is used in a general sense.

What is a jack dusty in the Navy?

nautical slang. (A name for) an assistant to a ship's steward, who works in the ship's stores; = "dusty boy"; compare earlier "Jack of (also o', †in) the Dust".

Why are sailors called Jack?

Sailors in the Royal or Merchant Navy were often called “Jack Tars.” The name “Jack” was used generically to refer to a common man, in the way we might talk today about an average Joe. “Tar” referred to the tarpaulin or sailcloth, so the term “Jack Tar” distinguished a man from other Jacks.

How did sailors wipe?

As can be seen in the video below, close to the ship's head — the toilets in the bow or “head” of the ship — there was a long rope ending in a short rag that hung over the side into the water. After using the head, the sailor could then clean his backside with the wet rag then drop the rope back over the side.

What is a kitchen called on a ship?

The galley is the compartment of a ship, train, or aircraft where food is cooked and prepared. It can also refer to a land-based kitchen on a naval base, or, from a kitchen design point of view, to a straight design of the kitchen layout.

Why is it called the John?

Where does the name "the john" come from? We'll get the basic etymology out of the way: "John" as slang for toilet probably derived from "jakes" or "jacks," medieval English terms for what was then a small, smelly loo inside the house if you were very fancy and outside the house if you were slightly less so.

What do Navy sailors call each other?

In the United States Navy, "shipmate" is a term used by anyone in the Navy to reference anyone else in the Navy. It can be used with a range of connotations—most often as an expression of camaraderie, but also as a respectful way to address other crew members whose rank or naval rating is not clear.

What is the shower called on a ship?

Random Boat Facts, why a Boat bathroom is called a head.

What is the lady on the front of the ship called?

Figureheads were often female but not exclusively so. A female may have been popular because the ship itself is always referred to as a 'she'. As women were often not allowed on board, the figurehead itself might also represent the sole female on the ship.

Why is it called a privy?

The oldest word on the list, privy dates back hundreds of years and derives from the phrase private place. Despite some persistent myths, the privy council does not take its name from when King Henry VIII would hold meetings in his toilet.

What did they use for toilet paper before it was invented?

Before toilet paper, people mainly used whatever was free and readily available for personal hygiene. Unfortunately, many of the options were quite painful: Wood shavings, hay, rocks, corn cobs, and even frayed anchor cables.

What does Duff mean in the Navy?

“No Duff” is Military Coms meaning “This is Not a Drill”. We are a group of serving and former service personnel who along with our civilian colleagues recognise the need to support rank and file personnel, both serving and retired, who as a result of service suffer from mental health illness.

What is a wafu Royal Navy?

Members of the Fleet Air Arm continue to be known as WAFUs. WAFU ("wet and flipping useless") is said to actually derive from "Weapon and Fuel Users", a stores category for clothing.