I'm feeling mellow today, so-

[Derrick Stephenson]

Hi People,
To celebrate my 39th. wedding anniversary today, a non devious question for you.
(I was married on Grand National day 1965 and backed a horse called Groomsman @ 150 -1, and guess what - yep, it fell at the first fence!!!).

Can you tell me the origins of the following phrases :
1) Scuttlebutt
2) A slice of the action.
Both have military connections.
Derrick.

[HighlandSniper58]

A Scuttlebutt was a water container - usually a cask - placed on the decks of Royal Navy ships in easy reach of the gun crews so that they could snatch a drink whilst the guns were in action. Two sailors meeting at the scuttlebutt momentarily might exchange information of how the battle was going, who was hurt etc., hence Scuttlebutt = gossip

[Derrick Stephenson]

Spot on Highland Sniper, the other one is a bit more obscure, but really self explanatory.
Derrick.

[Zofo]

Thanks Derick and Happy Aniversary
I have to go out in 2 minutes so I'll fill in the first question and leave the webmaster to jump in for the second!!
OK, here goes!
Scuttlebutt: means "rumours or stories not based on fact; gossip" - a theory for the phrase goes somewhat like this:
Butt is an old word for a cask (the payment for the poet laureate in the UK is supposed to include an annual "butt of sack" from the monarch – butt meaning cask). The word scuttle (of obscure origins, but it seems to be related to similar words in French, Spanish and Portuguese) means "a hole, hatchway, or opening" (the hatch in an ship's deck used to be called a scuttle). So a cask (or butt) which has a hole (or scuttle) in it (presumably with a tap or bung in it so that water can be drawn off) was a scuttlebutt.

[Zofo]

Blimey whilst typing I've got Mr. Sniper firing quicker!
Dang and blast!

[Derrick Stephenson]

Hi Zofo,
you were well on the way, but Highland Sniper is spot on as always. We should handicap him.
Derrick.

[HighlandSniper58]

Nah, don't cut bits off me please Mr Derrick, I'll be good, I'll even post wrong answers, please Mr Derrick, please 8) :lol: 8) :lol:

[Derrick Stephenson]

Now Rob,
A slice of the action, - 'don't cut bits off me', - are you taking the pi##, or what? L.O.L.
Derrick.

[HighlandSniper58]

Who sir, me sir...............no sir, I would take the p**s sir!

[Derrick Stephenson]

Rob,
If you knew how close!!
I hope you meant 'would I', not 'I would'.
Derrick.

[HighlandSniper58]

Oh yes, see what you mean, I sincerely meant "would I". :oops:

[Derrick Stephenson]

Highland Sniper,
I get more laughs from you and Himself than I do from 'Last of the Summer Wine'.
Cheers, Derrick.

[HighlandSniper58]

Well we can but try Mr Derrick - my "uvver arf" says I'm very trying.

[Bombardier]

Sorry derrick, this is belated .

a warm congrats to you on what im sure was a fine day. :D

[Derrick Stephenson]

Hi All,
Highland Sniper is so close it's difficult to believe that he doesn't have the answer.
Derrick.

[Frisco-Kid]

Derrick,

I just wanted to wish you HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to the both of you. I hope the two of you had a great day.

P.S.- We had our 36th in DEC.




"WHAT A LONG, STRANGE TRIP IT'S BEEN"- The Grateful Dead :lol:

[HighlandSniper58]

Derrick

Just came to me in a flash of light.............

Is is something to do with a having had an amputation as the result of combat injuries, e.g. in Nelson's time or Wellington's Army?

[Derrick Stephenson]

Nothing to do with body parts.
Derrick.

[Derrick Stephenson]

I won't BAR anyone from answering this question, and I don't expect to COIN it in if nobody gets it right.
Derrick.

[HighlandSniper58]

I spent longer than I could afford this morning trying to crack this one...............did I get anywhere - did I hell.

I surrender! ;)

[Derrick Stephenson]

When you've all had enough, just let me know, I don't want to ##ss you all off, I enjoy these quizzes. ( Remember, our friends in the U.S.A. are at least 6 hours behind us).
Derrick.

[Bombardier]

well that gives a thicko like me more of a chance LOL :?

[Derrick Stephenson]

This goes back to when crews were entitled to shares of prize money as a result of action against enemy shipping.
Government appointed agents were responsible for evaluating the value of ships and cargo captured. Only crews of those ships involved in the ACTION could claim, with the exception of the Crown and the leader of the expedition.
It was common practice for the evaluators to slice off pieces from gold or silver bars, or even coins, to get their 'piece of the action'.
This is one of the reasons why gold and silver coins were eventually milled.
Derrick.