san fairy ann

A homophonic translation of French ça ne fait rien (“it doesn’t matter”), probably originating among British and ANZAC army soldiers during World War I (1914–1918).

bor

“[…] It seems scrounging for fuel ’ad reached such a pitch in the village […] But our washing ’ad to be done, ’an I thought if I got the whole of this football team scrounging they might find something as everyone else ’ad overlooked.[…]” / “‘Very well,’ says I, ‘San fairy ann. Napoo [i.e., n’y a plus] washing—napoo ball.’[…]”

1920 March 10, “Won on the Posts. (With the British Army in France.)”, in Punch, or The London Charivari, volume CLVIII, London: […] Bradbury, Agnew & Co., […], →OCLC, page 185, column 1:

‘Very well,’ says I, ‘it doesn't matter. No more washing—no more ball.’

We said he were wonderful brave dog about Upstart, which me and Slippers would not have taken on. He said: "Fairy Ann! Fairy Ann!" But he were most-happy dog.

[1930 October, Rudyard Kipling, “Toby Dog”, in Thy Servant a Dog […], London: Macmillan and Co., […], published October 1931, →OCLC, pages 87–88:

We stood to attention for a seeming eternity while the Adjutant, a runt-like little Guards captain, proceeded at a snail's pace along the ranks, closely attended by the dreaded R.S.M. Copp. […] His [Copp's] choicest utterance was 'I've had enough of your San-Fairy-Ann [ça ne me fait rien] attitude!' – was this an echo of 1914-18 or of our earlier wars against the French?

1997, Christopher Hurst, “A Taste of Hell”, in The View from King Street: An Essay in Autobiography, London: Thalia Press, →ISBN, book I (The Pre-history of a Publisher), page 123:

Occasionally, when he has had too much to drink, he'll give voice to his disappointments, but Sarah only smiles at that and blows him a kiss and says, San Fairy Ann, dear, San Fairy Ann, and he will give up trying to explain.

2002, Melanie McGrath, chapter 1, in Silvertown: An East End Family Memoir, London: Fourth Estate, HarperCollinsPublishers, →ISBN, page 10:

[G]oo-on, he says, goo-on, I'll give you 'alf, Morris, he says if she [a racehorse] romps home, romp, did she bloody romp, she ran like the clappers out of hell, dropped dead two hours after in her trailer but san-fairy-ann, what's that to me, and where's my fiver?

2005, Hilary Mantel, Beyond Black, London: Fourth Estate, HarperCollinsPublishers, →ISBN, page 164:

‘Ça ne fait rien.’ / ‘San fairy Ann,’ she laughed. ‘Well, I suppose that’s English now, in a way.’ / ‘That’s what some of the soldiers say, san fairy Ann,’ one of the children piped. ‘What does it mean?’ / ‘Eet doesen’t matair.’

[2007, Annie Wilkinson, For King and Country, London: Simon & Schuster, →ISBN, page 232:

As Mrs. Jarvie loves to say "San fairy ann," or in other words, fuck it.

2023, Natali Clark, “San Fairy Ann”, in Staring at Medusa, Altona, Man.: FriesenPress, →ISBN, page 275:

(Australia, New Zealand, UK, military slang, humorous, obsolete) It doesn't matter.


FAR

Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces
w:Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces

(military) Initialism of Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces.


on parade

[…] he was ordered to leave general Washington’s camp, in consequence of the character that had been given of him; and upon his appearing on parade afterwards, he was ordered to leave general Washington’s camp on pain of imprisonment.

1780, Proceedings of a General Court Martial of the Line […] for the Trial of Major General Arnold, Philadelphia, page 8:

The upper clouds are to the lower, what soldiers on parade are to a mixed multitude; no men walk on their heads or their hands, and so there are certain laws which no clouds violate; but there is nothing except in the upper clouds resembling symmetrical discipline.

1843, [John Ruskin], chapter 2, in Modern Painters […], volume I, London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], →OCLC, , § 3:

Rawdon sat down in the study before the Baronet’s table, set out with the orderly blue books and the letters, the neatly docketed bills and symmetrical pamphlets, the locked account-books, desks, and dispatch boxes, the Bible, the Quarterly Review, and the Court Guide, which all stood as if on parade awaiting the inspection of their chief.

1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, “54”, in Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC:

The morning of Major Ferguson's round had come again. It was the most detested event of the week: for the staff, because he expected the punctilio of a large teaching hospital to which the resources of the place were unequal; and for the patients because for an hour or more they would be virtually on parade unable to move from their beds, smoke or talk.

1953, Mary Renault, chapter 3, in The Charioteer, New York: Pantheon, published 1959, pages 40–41:

Battalions of infantry stood on parade around the durbar ground […]

1973, Jan Morris, chapter 16, in Heaven’s Command: An Imperial Progress,, New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, page 332:

(military) Assembled and in formation, prepared for inspection, to receive orders, etc.


parade rest

[…] no audible or visible order was given, but the ten thousand soldiers executed the movement of parade rest as a man.

1959, Kurt Vonnegut, chapter 4, in The Sirens of Titan, New York: Dial, published 2006, page 98:

A stern, sawed-off soldier, whom Colonel Eiger had referred to as a master sergeant, whispered something to the honor guard, who stood at parade rest and glanced anxiously at Colonel Eiger […]

1989, John Irving, chapter 9, in A Prayer for Owen Meany, New York: William Morrow, page 494:

(US, military) A position of rest in which the feet are 12 inches apart and the hands clasped behind the back, or the left hand is behind the back and the right hand holds the rifle with its butt on the ground.


face turn

face turns (plural)
heel/face turn (alternative)
heel-face turn (alternative)

From professional wrestling, in which the wrestler playing a villain role is called the "heel" and a wrestler playing the heroic role is called the "face".

In order to retain viewers, both promotions did their best to load their respective shows with as much action and as many dramatic twists as possible, including pay-per-view quality matches, title changes, heal/face turns, and shocking debuts on a weekly basis.

2000, Brian Solomon, Pro Wrestling FAQ, →ISBN:

Here are five superstars who would benefit tremendously from a character change, whether that be a heel/face turn or an entirely new gimmick.

2017 November 12, Blake Oestriecher, “5 WWE Stars who Badly Need a Character Change”, in Forbes:

WWE has been known to do heel/face turn experiments at live events.

2018 July 29, Corey Jacobs, “Bray Wyatt wrestled as a full-blown babyface on Saturday night”, in Wrestling News:

professional wrestling
professional wrestling

(professional wrestling) A situation in which a wrestler previously identified as a villain changes to being considered a hero.


TOW

The American-made TOW antitank missiles began arriving in the region in 2013, through a covert program run by the United States, Saudi Arabia and other allies to help certain C.I.A.-vetted insurgent groups battle the Syrian government.

2015 October 12, Anne Barnard, Karam Shoumali, “U.S. Weaponry Is Turning Syria Into Proxy War With Russia”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

(military) Initialism of tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided: a kind of antitank missile.


rerole

en-verb

rerole (third-person singular simple present reroles, present participle reroling, simple past and past participle reroled)

reroles (present singular third-person)
reroling (participle present)
reroled (participle past)
reroled (past)

(military, transitive) To assign a new role to.


shoulderboard

In Jerusalem, the streets glittered with the gold braid and shoulderboards of Russian uniforms, worn by princes and generals, while teeming with the sheepskins and smocks of thousands of peasant pilgrims, all encouraged by Nicholas who also despatched and ecclesiastical mission to compete with the other Europeans.

2011, Simon Sebag Montefiore, Jerusalem: The Biography – A History of the Middle East, page 409:

(military) An elaborate shoulder strap on a military uniform.


secure arms

secure arms (third-person singular simple present secures arms, present participle securing arms, simple past and past participle secured arms)

secures arms (present singular third-person)
securing arms (participle present)
secured arms (participle past)
secured arms (past)

(military) To guard the firearms from becoming wet.


underhook

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-underhook.wav

(wrestling, martial arts) A clinch hold performed by putting an arm under the opponent's arm, and holding the opponent's midsection or upper body.


underhook

underhook (third-person singular simple present underhooks, present participle underhooking, simple past and past participle underhooked)

underhooks (present singular third-person)
underhooking (participle present)
underhooked (participle past)
underhooked (past)

(wrestling, martial arts, transitive) To use such a hold upon.


retired list

(military) A list of officers who are relieved from active service but receive a certain amount of pay.


detrench

detrench (third-person singular simple present detrenches, present participle detrenching, simple past and past participle detrenched)

detrenches (present singular third-person)
detrenching (participle present)
detrenched (participle past)
detrenched (past)

Verey lights, no longer needed by the detrenched army, soared with them, descending in wavy pools of radiance.

1936, Henry Williamson, The Flax of Dream: A Novel in Four Books, page 748:

There was particularly heavy fighting in the Smolensk direction, where our units detrenched the enemy from their positions with a succession of counterattacks.

1942, The World Almanac and Book of Facts, page 69:

keep the defense on the move and force them to detrench, defending stack at a time, to ensure a quick success for the TOP-UP infantry attack.

2004, Computer Gaming World - Volumes 138-143:

(military) To force (an army) out of trenches, or to be so forced out.


wax someone's tail

wax someone's tail (third-person singular simple present waxes someone's tail, present participle waxing someone's tail, simple past and past participle waxed someone's tail)

waxes someone's tail (present singular third-person)
waxing someone's tail (participle present)
waxed someone's tail (participle past)
waxed someone's tail (past)

(military, aviation, slang) To lock one's weapons onto the tail of an enemy aircraft.


WWMCCS

w:Worldwide Military Command and Control System

(US, military, historical) Initialism of Worldwide Military Command and Control System.


Wimex

(US, military, historical) Alternative form of WWMCCS


white radio

Coordinate term: black radio

(espionage) Radio broadcasting propaganda whose source and motivation are apparent.


black radio

(espionage) Radio broadcasting propaganda whose source and motivation are covert.


open order

(military) A military unit formed up so as to allow space between its ranks.


surgeon major

(military) The ranking surgeon of a regiment in the British Commonwealth


time thrust

(fencing) A thrust made at the moment the opponent draws breath for his or her own thrust.


wetting down

(US, military, slang) A party held to celebrate promotion in the navy.


horse artillery

en-noun

horse artillery (usually uncountable, plural horse artilleries)

(military, historical) Field artillery with comparatively light guns and the gunners mounted on horses.


country team

(chiefly US, espionage) A group of people in charge of a state's intelligence operations in a foreign country, typically led by an ambassador.


shuftiscope

(UK, military, slang, dated) An invasive medical instrument used to test a patient for dysentery.


rough book

rough books (plural)
rough-book (alternative)

(military, now rare) A rough ledger used by a warrant officer to keep track of expenses.


staff corps

(UK, military, historical) A body of officers and soldiers who performed engineering and siege duties, made reconnaissances, etc. during the wars of Wellington.

(India, military, historical) A body of British officers serving on the permanent Indian establishment, appointed from it to do duty with native regiments, etc.


iswas

From is + was, i.e. for calculating where the target will be based on where it is and was.

(military, historical, naval slang) A kind of hand-held slide rule used for predicting the location of a target based on its current and recent positions.


driving band

(military) A band of soft metal near the base of an artillery shell which is forced into engagement with the gun's rifling upon firing, allowing the rifling to spin up the shell and providing a gastight seal around the base of the shell.


walk about

(military, historical) An order of an officer to a sentry, waiving the customary salute.


Jimmy the One

By custom of the Navy the first lieutenant, or "Jimmy the One" as he is called, is in charge of cables and cablework on the forecastle.

1943, Sir Reginald Bacon, Britain's Glorious Navy, page 28:

He looks up and greets me in the bluff good-natured way that makes him popular with everyone from Jimmy the One down to our newest ordinary seaman.

2017, Martin Mace, The Royal Navy at Dunkirk:

(UK, military, slang) A first lieutenant in the navy.


Johnny Armstrong

A play on the surname Armstrong and the words arm and strong.

(navy, slang) Strenuous manual work; pulling or hauling; muscle power.


JEEP

(military) Initialism of Joint Emergency Evacuation Plan.


Lethwei

From Burmese လက်ဝှေ့ (lakhwe., “boxing”).

(martial arts) Lethwei, Burmese bareknuckle boxing, traditional combat sport from Myanmar.


officer cadet

commissioned officer
commissioned officer

(military) A cadet in training to be a commissioned officer


spring searcher

spring searcher (plural spring searchers)

(firearms) A pronged tool to search for defects in the bore of a gun.


siege train

(military) The materials carried by an army for the purpose of laying siege to a place.

belägringspark

the materials carried by an army for the purpose of laying siege to a place


NEACP

(US, military) Initialism of National Emergency Airborne Command Post: a Boeing E-4 aircraft operated by the US Air Force in emergencies.


fire arrow

(military, historical) A metal dart or arrow furnished with a combustible such as gunpowder for setting fire to ships.


knife fight

(military) A dogfight (aircraft battle) at close quarters.


hunter-killer

(military) A submarine designed to seek and destroy other vessels.


COMINT

Blend of communications + intelligence. Compare HUMINT etc.

communications intelligence
communications intelligence#English

(espionage) Abbreviation of communications intelligence.


TELINT

(espionage) Initialism of telemetry intelligence.


FISINT

(espionage) Initialism of foreign instrumentation signals intelligence.


heel turn

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-heel turn.wav

From heel (“rear part of the foot, where it joins the leg”) + turn; sense 2 (“act of turning around abruptly”) is derived from turn heel or turn on one’s heel.
Sense 4 ("A situation in which a wrestler previously identified as a hero changes to being considered a villain") is a pun on the word heel, which also means “a headlining wrestler whose ring persona embodies villainous or reprehensible traits”.

compound

As a result of the heel turn, [Riki] Choshu was instantly elevated as a headliner and feuded with [Tatsumi] Fujinami in main events for two years over the WWF [World Wrestling Federation] International Heavyweight strap.

2002, John F. Molinaro, edited by Jeff Marek and Dave Meltzer, Top 100 Pro Wrestlers of All Time, Toronto, Ont.: Winding Stair Press, →ISBN, page 78, column 1:

The early 1999 destruction of [Ric] Flair in storyline fashion, even as Flair and Hulk Hogan were drawing the last of the company's great buy rates (although Flair's heel turn after drawing the last big buy rate for a SuperBrawl in San Francisco was Flair's own doing) was not a bunch of angles that were bad ideas, such as the period he was confined to a nut house (and somehow even made that drivel entertaining).

2004, Dave Meltzer, editor, Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Campbell, Calif.: Wrestling Observer Newsletter, page 1, column 2:

(professional wrestling) A situation in which a wrestler previously identified as a hero changes to being considered a villain

More than any other episode to date, “The Last Of The Starks” heralds Daenerys’ heel turn. She’s been poised for it for some time, though the timing varies depending on the character perspective—Varys has always been ready to fly to another camp if he felt something was amiss or he just found a more viable candidate, while Tyrion [Lannister] and Jon [Snow] still want to serve her.

2019 May 5, Danette Chavez, “Campaigns are Waged On and Off the Game Of Thrones Battlefield (Newbies)”, in The A.V. Club, archived from the original on 2021-01-28:

(by extension) A situation in which someone changes from being a hero into a villain.


tin fish

(UK, naval slang) Alternative form of tinfish (“torpedo”)


E&E

(military) Initialism of escape and evasion.


ERCS

w:AN/DRC-8 Emergency Rocket Communications System

(military) Initialism of Emergency Rocket Communications System.


do a never

en-verb

do a never (third-person singular simple present does a never, present participle doing a never, simple past did a never, past participle done a never)

does a never (present singular third-person)
doing a never (participle present)
did a never (past)
done a never (participle past)

The Chief Buffer has got a howl on now because he got a blast from Torps, as so many of the part of ship hands were doing a never on the messdecks instead of working the main derrick.

1943, Robert Burgess, Roland Blackburn, We Joined the Navy:

(UK, naval, slang, dated) To mess about; to idle instead of working.


NODIS

(US, military) Abbreviation of no distribution: a document classification level.


LIMDIS

(US, military) Abbreviation of limited distribution: a document classification level.


EXDIS

(US, military) Abbreviation of exclusive distribution: a document classification level.


Noddy cap

Named after a character who wore a pointed hat in children's books by Enid Blyton.

(UK, military, slang) A rubber cap protecting the nose cone of a missile.


Jack Shalloo

A fine lad, though maybe a bit of a Jack Shalloo with the great talk.

1932, Myrtle Johnston, The Maiden, page 194:

Huh! He has just saved his ticket then. Knew to the minute, he did, when she was to cast off — asked me yesterday, he did. What the mischief does he mean by this Jack Shalloo trick? And at a time like this!

1910, The Idler: An Illustrated Monthly Magazine, volume 38, page 172:

(dated, naval slang) A careless or happy-go-lucky man.


butt pad

(firearms) A piece of padding placed on the butt of a gun for comfort and to absorb recoil.


hotbunk

hotbunk (third-person singular simple present hotbunks, present participle hotbunking, simple past and past participle hotbunked)

hotbunks (present singular third-person)
hotbunking (participle present)
hotbunked (participle past)
hotbunked (past)

(military, slang, intransitive) To share bunks on a submarine, one crewmember sleeping while another is out on duty.


Jack Strop

'So as not to have jack strops like you, Butcher boy,' Adams said. 'If some cowson Jerry battlewaggon's coming at me, I'd sooner someone who knew his job were at the helm, and I tell you that straight.'

1986, Alan Ross, Blindfold Games, page 211:

They were probably surprised that Jack had etiquette at all, but despite the skates and Jack Strops and their various highly dubious shore activities, when on board, Jack had enormous pride and respect for RN tradition.

2011, Rick Jolly, Jackspeak: A Guide to British Naval Slang & Usage, page 259:

(UK, naval slang) A conceited, argumentative or swaggering sailor.


safety lock

(firearms) A lock with some device for preventing accidental firing of the weapon.


Johnny Turk

(obsolete, informal, military slang) An Ottoman soldier in World War One, particularly a Turkish one.


Gallipoli gallop

(obsolete, military slang) Dysentery, as experienced by ANZACs at the Battle of Gallipoli.


Tennessee quick step

(obsolete, military slang) Dysentery, as experienced by soldiers in the United States Civil War.


hutchie

From Japanese 家 (uchi, “house”), with possible influence from hut (“shelter”) or hutch (“box”).

(dated, military slang) A dugout or shelter, especially as used in the Korean War.


FLPB

foreign language
foreign language#English

(military, US) Initialism of foreign language proficiency bonus.


MBFR

(military) Initialism of mutual and balanced force reductions.


EEFI

(military) Initialism of essential elements of friendly information.


incontinent ordinance

en-noun

incontinent ordinance (countable and uncountable, plural incontinent ordinances)

(US, military) Bombs or missiles that inadvertently strike friendly forces or sites.


Pink Lady

Pink Lady (countable and uncountable, plural Pink Ladies)

Pink Ladies (plural)
pink lady (alternative)

(historical, military, uncountable) A denaturant mixture added to discourage World War II-era US Navy submariners from drinking "torpedo juice".


torpedo juice

(US, military, slang) An alcoholic beverage, first mixed in World War II, made from pineapple juice and the 180-proof grain alcohol fuel used in torpedo motors.


SRAAM

air-to-air missile
air-to-air missile#English

(military) Initialism of short-range air-to-air missile.


WVRAAM

Coordinate term: BVRAAM

(military) Initialism of within-visual-range air-to-air missile.


LRAAM

(military) Initialism of long-range air-to-air missile.


MRAAM

(military) Initialism of medium-range air-to-air missile.


BVRAAM

Coordinate term: WVRAAM

(military) Initialism of beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile.


LRIP

low rate initial production
low rate initial production#English

(military) Abbreviation of low rate initial production.


dropping fire

(military) A continuous irregular discharge of small arms.


cherch

en-verb

cherch (third-person singular simple present cherches, present participle cherching, simple past and past participle cherched)

cherches (present singular third-person)
cherching (participle present)
cherched (participle past)
cherched (past)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-cherch.wav

(US military slang, World War I) To scrounge, to obtain in an unintended fashion, to scrape together.


coastwatching

(historical, military) The military intelligence work of the coastwatchers.


off-reckoning

(historical, UK, military) An allowance formerly made to certain British officers from the money appropriated for army clothing.


dog tent

Compound of dog + tent, for its resemblance to a kennel. Attested from the middle 19th century.

The men now had their rifles and 100 rounds of ammunition, one blanket, one shelter-half (one-half a dog tent), one rubber poncho, one coffee-tin, one knife, fork, and spoon, one tin cooking-pan and cover, one canteen and haversack containing three day’s provisions

1898, T.P. Conneff, “Campaigning with the 12th U.S. Infantry”, in The Holy Cross Purple, volume 7, page 72:

Under best circumstances, the shelter tent, also called a "dog" tent, afforded only minimal protection to its inhabitants

1982, Dean Nelson, “‘Right Nice Little House[s]’: Impermanent Camp Architecture of the American Civil War”, in Perspectives in Vernacular Architecture, volume 1, →DOI, page 80:

(originally US, military slang, historical) A small shelter tent, especially a tent composed of two shelter-halves.


shelter half

shelter halves (plural)
shelter-half (alternative)

From shelter + half; compare shelter tent. From mid 19th century.

Soldiers were each issued as standard field equipment a woolen blanket, a rubberized or painted muslin blanket or poncho, and a canvas shelter half or tent half with a series of buttons and buttonholes placed on three sides to enable them to be fastened together in various combinations. It was general practice for soldiers to pair off to share sleeping equipment, in effect doubling their potential warmth.

(military) A canvas sheet that, when combined with another, comprises a shelter tent; one half of a shelter tent.


main belt

main belts (plural)
Main Belt (alternative)

(nautical, military) The primary belt of armor protecting the sides of a warship above and slightly below the waterline.


NEX

I'm going to the NEX to do my Christmas shopping.

(military, US) Abbreviation of Navy Exchange, a department-store chain operated by the United States Navy exclusively for the military and their families, allies, and certain other individuals.


skip bombing

(aviation, military) A low-level bombing technique where an aircraft attacks shipping by skipping the bomb across the water like a thrown stone.


field train

(military) A department of the Royal Artillery responsible for the safety and supply of ammunition during war.


battle station

battle stations (plural)
battlestation (alternative)

(military) The position taken by a member of a military force when preparing for battle.


bare-knuckle

The bare-knuckle boxing era ended in the early 20th century, when gloves were introduced, stricter rules implemented and oversight organizations formed.

2009, David Lindholm, Ulf Karlsson, Bare-Knuckle Boxer's Companion, →ISBN:

In bare-knuckle fights, one of the most frequent injuries is a broken hand.

2012, Ken Shamrock, Richard Hanner, Inside the Lion's Den, →ISBN:

He was known as a tough bare-knuckle boxer and had already consolidated a reputation from his teenage years, when he had first thrown his fists in anger.

2013, Eamon Dillon, Gypsy Empire, →ISBN, page 126:

The difference between a street fight and a bare-knuckle boxing match is an accepted set of rules, such as not striking a downed opponent.

2015, Patrick White, The Legends of Bare-knuckle Boxing: The History & the Champions, →ISBN:


Hanoi Hilton

From Hanoi + Hilton.
An alliterative construction, pairing the location Hanoi (metonymically referring to North Vietnam) with a word referring to lodgings. An ironic reference to the Hilton chain of luxury hotels.

The Hilton Hanoi Opera hotel has opened, a few blocks from Hoa Lo, the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” where American prisoners were held during the Vietnam War. (The few remaining cells of that prison have been preserved as a museum.)

1999 May 30, Luba Vangelova, “From the Hanoi Hilton To the Hilton Hanoi”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

prisoners of war
prisoner of war#English

(US, military, slang, historical) Hỏa Lò Prison in Vietnam, where prisoners of war were held.


Monty coat

After British officer Bernard Montgomery.


fightability

It incorporates a massive investment in digitization in its on-board systems, all aimed at improving the reliability, fightability, and operational capability of the tank.

The total weight of the items worn and carried by the squad leader and infantry rifleman cannot be increased as capability and functionality is increased because of the adverse effects on mobility and fightability.


provost marshal

(military) The person in charge of a group of military police; now usually a senior commissioned officer.


crowbill

crowbills (plural)
crow-bill (alternative)

From crow (“bird of the genus Corvus”) + bill (“beak of a bird”). Sense 1 (“kind of forceps”) is probably from its appearance, while sense 2 (“type of poleaxe”) is a calque of French bec de corbin (literally “crow or raven's beak”).

calque

(weaponry, historical) Synonym of bec de corbin (“poleaxe with a modified hammerhead and a spike mounted on the top of the pole”)


Blighty one

From the fact that such a wound would have one be sent back to England (Blighty).

Though my thoughts did not formulate themselves so clearly or so crudely at the time, I had a “Blighty” one, that sort of wound that all the soldiers sighed and sang for (“Take me back to dear old Blighty”), and my platoon, in which I had taken much pride, could now look after itself.

2012, J. R. Ackerley, My Father and Myself, →ISBN:

'Well, Smudge,' says Danny, 'I heard you'd copped a Blighty One.'

2014, Tony Bradman, Stories of World War One, →ISBN:

'Well, lad, you've got yourself a Blighty one, by the looks!' The orderly patted Mark's neatly bandaged torso.

How often on the march one had looked back oneself into a passing ambulance and wished, rather shamefully, for a “Blighty” one.

2014, E.G.D. Living, Walking into Hell 1st July 1916: Memoirs of the First Day of the Somme, →ISBN:

(military slang) A wound that is relatively minor, but sufficiently severe that one will be sent to the hospital in England.


Blighty bag

From Blighty one (“a wound that gets one sent away from the front to hospital”).

Carrie May Hall: "Tell the women to make 'Blighty' bags!

1991, Dorothy Schneider, Carl J. Schneider, Into the breach: American women overseas in World War I, page 298:

Two lightly wounded men, detailed to help, took his belongings and put them in a 'Blighty bag,' carefully marking his name, rank, serial number, and unit.

2005, John Warner, Emperor of the East Slope, →ISBN, page 84:

Their treasures are put in little bags, ′Blighty bags′, the boys call them.

2018, Susanna de Vries, Australian Heroines of World War One, →ISBN:

(military slang) A small bag that holds a wounded soldier's personal effects and accompanies him to hospital.


incendigel

(military) A mixture of petrol, benzene and polystyrene, used like napalm.


heavy marching order

(military) The condition of troops fully equipped for field service.


saddler sergeant

en-noun

saddler sergeant (plural saddler sergeants)

(military, historical) A sergeant in the cavalry who has charge of the saddlers.

(US, military, historical) A non-commissioned staff officer of a cavalry regiment.


proof mark

(firearms) A mark stamped on a gun to show that it has been tested successfully.


watering call

(military, historical) A signal sounded to instruct soldiers that it is time to water their horses.


bombing run

There’s palpable peril in the squadron’s ever-mounting bombing runs, and Cathcart’s moving target of a mission quota makes a clever parallel to contemporary America’s Forever War, but the flight sequences wind up acquiring a deadening repetitiousness

2019 May 16, Erik Adams, “A potent satire has its wings clipped in Catch-22”, in The A.V. Club, archived from the original on 2019-09-01:

(military) The route of a bomber as it approaches its target; a sortie of a bomber


beer lever

From the resemblance to the taps used to pull pints of beer in a public house.

(military, slang) The control column of an aircraft.


scalphunter

There is one class of spook we have not encountered as yet. This is the scalp-hunter, or defector-hunter. Quite often a scalp-hunter will be more valuable than almost any other intelligence operator.

1982, Richard Deacon, With My Little Eye: The Memoirs of a Spy-Hunter, page 103:

But agency policy is that the case officer is, in the jargon, a "scalp hunter" who must turn a contact into an agent […]

2002, Angelo Codevilla, Informing Statecraft, page 82:

(espionage) An agent who vets potential defectors.


feather merchant

feather merchant (plural feather merchants)

But do you know that you are also a feather merchant-you and 120,000,000 other Americans? "Feather Merchants" is G.I. slang for civilians, and Max Shulman has done a book which points out why with a million irreverent, barbed laughs.

1944, The Publishers Weekly - Volume 145, page 1193:

One more point, the aide says, also, this Arthur Zooks is not only the general's high-school classmate, but is a Very Important Person —in Feather Merchant circles.

1948, Infantry Journal - Volumes 62-63, page 24:

"I think you're a goddamn feather merchant." When he saw that this had sort of stunned Lowell, he went on. "A word of advice, feather merchant: Don't try to take advantage of being the general's lady's golf pro and instructor in kraut."

1982, W. E. B. Griffin, Brotherhood of war, book 1: the lieutenants, page 151:

Every soldier knows that “feather merchants” means civilians, but few know why it does. The origins of the term are indeed cloaked in mystery.

2016, Max Shulman, The Feather Merchants: A Novel:

Everybody who works for a feather merchant knows where all the trouble is — at higher headquarters. At least, that's what the feather merchant says.

1982, Infantry School (U.S.), United States Army Infantry School, United States Army Infantry School. Editorial and Pictorial Office, Infantry - Volumes 72-73:

What's wrong? You feather merchants can't handle the mission?

2007, F.K. Milton, Fat Kid's War, page 9:

Calling “Attention!,” our DI shouted, “That wasn't funny, you feather merchants!”

2012, Chuck Tatum, Red Blood, Black Sand:

“All right you bunch of feather-merchants, let's get this show on the road!” barked a sergeant dressed in army olive drab.

2013, Richard C. Kirkland, Wide Place In The Road: A Great Generation Love Story, page 327:

Jackson figured fat REMFs to be the worst kind of feather merchants.

2014, James Hawkins, A Common Virtue: A Novel, page 61:

(military slang, by extension) Someone with a cushy job or without combat experience.


cede the field

en-verb

cede the field (third-person singular simple present cedes the field, present participle ceding the field, simple past and past participle ceded the field)

cedes the field (present singular third-person)
ceding the field (participle present)
ceded the field (participle past)
ceded the field (past)
yield the field (alternative)

(military) To withdraw from a military confrontation; to yield control of a battlefield to one's opponent.


Hollywood shower

en-noun

Hollywood shower (plural Hollywood showers)

(naval slang) A long, luxurious shower, as opposed to a "navy shower".


chinlock

(wrestling) A position in which one wrestler grabs the other's chin, particularly with the attacker's knees on the opponent's upper back.


left face

(especially military) The act of a person turning to the left.


rope and choke

(US, naval slang) The measurement of a person's body fat, by means of a measuring tape around parts of the body, to determine whether they meet physical fitness standards for service.


walking fire

walking fire (countable and uncountable, plural walking fires)

To counter this the French introduced 'walking fire'. The infantry used man-carried automatic weapons to keep the defender pinned down with a continuous hail of bullets for those last dangerous yards.

Walking fire was used to sweep an area with artillery. Assaulting infantry often approached an objective from behind the walking fires; this kept the enemy under cover until the assaulting troops were almost on top of them.

1990, Gregory R. Clark, Words of the Vietnam War:

Although difficult to learn and to perform, walking fire, when practiced in co-ordination with hand- and rifle grenadiers, was the essence of training for the assault.

1995, Gerard Demaison, Yves Buffetaut, R. Blake Stevens, Honour bound: the Chauchat machine rifle, page 61:

In the Pacific theater, the navy, marines, and army learned and perfected the technique of providing assaulting infantry with a wall of walking fire.

2003, Adrian R. Lewis, Omaha Beach: A Flawed Victory, page 222:

(military) A line of infantry equipped with automatic weapons advancing in a coordinated attack.


lee gauge

lee-gage (alternative)
lee gage (alternative)

The ship, or fleet, with the lee-gage could not attack ; if it did not wish to retreat, its action was confined to the defensive, and to receiving battle on the enemy’s terms.

1890, Alfred Thayer Mahan, The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660-1783, page 6:

In 1694, the 40-gun ship “Scarborough” was captured off Tory Island in very much the same manner as the “Anglesea,” that is, by the enemy taking the lee gauge ; and going back still further, the printed accounts of the Four Days’ Fight, in June, 1666, all dwell on the disadvantage which we were at by being to windward of the enemy.

1896, J.K. Laughton, “The study of naval history”, in Journal of the Royal United Service Institution, Whitehall Yard, page 804:

(obsolete, naval) The position of a sailing vessel leeward of another in battle, often restricting manoeuvrability and gunnery.


decocker

(firearms) A device in certain firearms that uncocks the weapon.


white belt

white belt (countable and uncountable, plural white belts)

A new student is appointed to the tenth kyu (step), or initial white belt stage.

1983, Thomas H. Makiyama, Steve Sanders, Keijutsukai Aikido: Japanese Art of Self-defense, page 166:

A typical school might start beginner students at white belt.

2010, Jim Ollhoff, Martial Arts Around the Globe, page 30:

This mountain you start from white belt and finish at black belt, the path up the mountain will have many twists and turns, and occasionally lead you astray.

2013, Aaron Smalley, Developing the Mindset of a Black Belt, page 97:

There's a saying my karate buddy used to tell me when talking about white belt (beginner) versus black belt (expert) karate skills. He said, “Pros are predictable, amateurs are dangerous!”

2014, Dave Erickson, JP Grebenc, Superior Texas Hold'em: Evolved Poker Strategy:

(martial arts, uncountable) The lowest rank; beginner level.

He decided to stay and clean the floor, as he had done when he was a white belt.

2006, Richard C. Gould, Red Sun on the Journey, page 23:

When a karate student is a white belt, the student aspires to be a black belt, the top color of karate belts, someday.

2011, Annemarie Algeo, Fat, Fit, and (Almost) Fifty, page 35:

I started attending on Sundays, and teamed up with Ian and another 'white belt', we got a 'green belt' - Ralph, to show us our first Kata.

2012, Tom Hill, Essays for Black Belt: 20 Inspirational Student Stories:

(martial arts, countable) A student at the white belt level.

For example students holding a white belt who pass the exam for high white, will wear a yellow stripe on their white belt.

2008, Master Richard Gordon, The Complete Guide to Tae Kwon Do: Reference Manual, page 3:

My one hope as I tie this white belt on you, sir, is that one day you do me the honor of tying on your black belt.

2017, Master Taekwon Lee, Jeffrey Nodelman, Ara's Rocky Road to White Belt, page 92:

(martial arts, countable) The belt worn by a student of white belt rank as a symbol of rank.


USCC

(US, military) Initialism of United States Corps of Cadets.


GFBD

(military slang) Initialism of God forgives, brothers don't.


Chinese ace

Flat-spin pilots are stupid or careless flyers, while Huns or Chinese aces are reckless fellows who have crashed […]

1933, Robert Earle Galbraith, These Our Moderns:

When I reported this to Burwell by telephone, he called me a Chinese ace — in those days Chinese aces were pilots who cracked up their own airplanes […]

1983, John Thorn, David Reuther, The Armchair Aviator, page 101:

(military, slang, dated) An inept airplane pilot.


zip gun

As pertaining to my idea of zip guns, we didn't use the old type of zip gun any more because they were too dangerous. That was just a pipe and a piece of wood and nail and rubber band.

1968, United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Government Operations. Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Riots, Civil and Criminal Disorders:

The simplest zip gun seen by the author was a metal tube in which a .22 Magnum cartridge was inserted. It was fired by striking the protruding base of the cartridge with a hammer.

1998, Vincent J.M. DiMaio, Gunshot Wounds, page 282:

During the interview, Flaco whips out a zip gun he's hidden beneath his testicles during the pat-down search prior to transfer to GID, and presents it to Detective Rydell.

. “Oh, so we got annuduh tough guy here,” he said, pulling out a gun from his leather jacket. It looked like a real gun, but who knew, maybe it was zip gun.

2012, Arnold Silveri, Turning the Corner on Life, page 59:

(firearms) A crude homemade weapon that fires a projectile.


buttplate

(firearms) The plate affixed to the rear end of a rifle stock.


MRC

The Bottom-Up Review is based on the premise that two near simultaneous Major Regional Conflicts (MRCs) can be successfully executed by our significantly downsized force structure.

1996, United States. Congress. House. Committee on Appropriations. Subcommittee on National Security, Department of Defense Appropriations for 1996: Quality of life, senior enlisted advisors, U.S. Government Printing Office, page 417

major regional conflict
major regional conflict#English

(military) Initialism of major regional conflict.


Chinese landing

Chinese landing (plural Chinese landings)

From the phrase "one wing low", thought to sound like a Chinese name. Compare Chinese ace.

Undershootings, overshootings, skewshootings and Chinese landings (with one wing low) were a constant worry to Station Commanders, and inability, by reason of shot and shell, to lower or lock landing wheels took a heavy toll.

1971, Alastair Revie, The Lost Command, page 69:

(military, slang) The landing of an aircraft with one wing lower than the other.


sea skimming

(military) The practice of a missile or aircraft flying as low as possible, minimizing the range at which it can be detected by a target at sea.


sea skimmer

(military) A missile or aircraft that engages in sea skimming.


toss bombing

(military) A method of bombing where the attacking aircraft pulls upward when releasing its bomb load, giving the bomb additional time of flight by starting its ballistic path with an upward vector.


milsurp

milsurp (usually uncountable, plural milsurps)

This catalog has milsurp rifles and ammunition on sale.

I'll be in the milsurp section of the store, looking for tents and camping gear.

(US, military, slang, often attributive) Obsolete, unneeded, or retired military equipment, often rifles, sold to individuals or businesses.


nap-of-the-earth

(military) Denoting a very low-altitude flight course used by military aircraft to avoid enemy detection and attack in a high-threat environment.


NOE

(military) Initialism of nap-of-the-earth.


dependapotamus

Blend of dependent + hippopotamus or similar, the second element being a reference to stereotypical obesity (and the popular misconception that hippos are largely made of fat).

(US, military, slang, derogatory) A servicemember's partner (especially a SAHM) who behaves in a parasitic manner, especially by taking advantage of their partner's status to demand beneficial treatment.


purser's crabs

(UK, naval slang) Boots issued by the navy.


Guzz

Uncertain; there are various speculative theories. See HMNB Devonport § Nickname on Wikipedia.Wikipedia


Funkspiel

From German Funkspiel; originally the name of a Nazi counterintelligence operation during World War II.

After a few months of Funkspiel, Giskes' bag was impressive: fifty-three agents taken prisoner immediately on arrival from England; […]

1969, Gilles Perrault, The Red Orchestra, page 147:

At the same time, Gehlen began to score successes with one of his other specialities, his own form of Funkspiel, […]

1981, Anthony Read, David Fisher, Operation Lucy: most secret spy ring of the Second World War:

Used the Russian version of funkspiel to do it, too.

2009, Dan Speers, Master Spies Die Laughing, page 93:

(espionage) The practice of sending deceptive information to the enemy by means of their official channels that have been subverted.


AWACS

(US, aviation, military) Acronym of airborne warning and control system.


FEBA

(military) Initialism of forward edge of the battle area.


RAOC

Royal Army Ordnance Corps
w:Royal Army Ordnance Corps

(UK, military, historical) Initialism of Royal Army Ordnance Corps.


suicide squad

(military slang) A unit assigned to a particularly risky task.


FTX

(US military) Abbreviation of field training exercise.


UCT

(US, military) Initialism of uncorrelated target.


sleeper hold

(martial arts, wrestling) A chokehold from behind that restricts blood flow to the brain and can cause the recipient to become unconscious.


combat box

(military, historical) A staggered tactical formation of bomber aircraft used by U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.


kill team

If we had contact with the enemy, I would direct the action from the center of the kill team, which was set up closest to the trail, with two teams on the flank fifteen feet away—one on the left flank, one on the right flank, and the last team behind us to cover our rear.

2001, Don C. Hall, Annette R. Hall, chapter 24, in I Served, Victoria, Canada: Trafford Publishing, →ISBN, page 239:

One method of bringing the fight to the enemy is to employ small-unit kill teams along main supply routes (MSR) and alternate supply routes (ASR) where enemy activity is most prevalent.

2008 January 27 – February 27, First Lieutenant Ken Segelhorst, “Small-Unit Kill Teams and IED Interdiction”, in Lieutenant Colonel Shane E. Lee, editor, ARMOR, volume CXVII, number 1, Fort Benning, Georgia, USA: U.S. Army Armor Center, →ISSN, page 26:

She felt the astral concussion of the shooters' killing intention through the RV link as the kill team breached his office door and fired into their illusory targets.

2013, Soren Knox, chapter 3, in On Causal Shores: Palimpsest Veil and Ananke Protocol, AuthorHouse, →ISBN, page 88:

(military) A small group of combatants that work together to attack an enemy.


bunny buster

(Australia, informal, firearms) a firearm, or type of ammunition, intended for rabbit shooting.

(Australia, informal, archery) a blunt rubber arrowhead intended for rabbit shooting


gravel cruncher

en-noun

gravel cruncher (plural gravel crunchers)

They developed a tremendous respect for the gravel crunchers after sweating out a few rounds of artillery and observing at painfully close range how rocky a Korean hill can be.

Nonaka seized on the critical importance of those who stormed the beaches first—the “gravel crunchers” as the Marines called them. It was a dangerous job.

2012, Daniel Denison, Robert Hooijberg, Nancy Lane, Leading Culture Change in Global Organizations:

(US, military, slang) A member of the military who is deployed on the ground rather than airborne.


ground cruncher

ground cruncher (plural ground crunchers)

(US, military, slang) Synonym of gravel cruncher


spasm war

(military) A nuclear war consisting of arbitrary uncoordinated strikes, without an overarching strategy.


spot report

(military) A report on enemy activity filed immediately after observation.


steel beach picnic

steel beach picnic (plural steel beach picnics)

(US, military, slang) An event with food, sporting contests, etc. held on the flight deck of a ship.


steel beach party

steel beach party (plural steel beach parties)

steel beach picnic
steel beach picnic#English

(US, military, slang) Synonym of steel beach picnic


A ring

The letter A designates the first (measured from ground zero); successive outer rings were designated B, C, etc.

(military) The innermost circle of a nuclear explosion, within which all structures are destroyed.


Anzac wafer

(Australia, New Zealand, military, slang) Hardtack.


worm castle

So called because it could become infested with worms.


GLCM

(military) Initialism of ground-launched cruise missile.


GLBM

ballistic missile
ballistic missile#English

(military) Initialism of ground-launched ballistic missile.


gizzit

Corruption of give us it. Compare gissa, gizza.

[…] spent the day chatting to people and selling Air Force 'gizzits' - pens, pencils, posters and other souvenirs - for the RAF Benevolent Fund.

1995, John Peters, John Nichol, Neil Hanson, Team Tornado: Life on a Front-Line Squadron, page 212:

The population of stuffed toys in the gulches on Ardent's Junior Messdeck exploded during the 48 hours the ship was in Narvik. But, even if they were bought, many were soon seen off, destined to become 'gizzits' borrowed from their original […]

2001, Mark Higgitt, Through Fire and Water:

A last visit to Gibraltar for those all-important last minute gizzits (gifts) had ended up being the usual last foreign run ashore before the constraints of home and family conspired to calm the men down a little.

(UK, military, slang) Any item that is stolen, appropriated, or acquired cheaply or for free; loot; swag.


rock happy

en-adj

rock happy (comparative more rock happy, superlative most rock happy)

more rock happy (comparative)
most rock happy (superlative)

The civilian ground crew was rock happy. […] They were screaming at each other. Foul. Abusive. Bloodthirsty. It's what happens to men who take stupid jobs in miserable locations just for the money.

2008, George Lowe, The Hard, Hard Life of George A. Lowe, page 75:

After fifteen months most of us were rock happy and would have done anything to get out of there, even if it meant invading Japan.

2016, Bruce M. Petty, Saipan: Oral Histories of the Pacific War, page 150:

(US, military, slang) eccentric or crazy as a result of spending a long time on a remote island


Remington raider

en-noun

Remington raider (plural Remington raiders)

From the name of a typewriter manufacturer.


repple depple

Cartoonist and commentator Bill Mauldin, who served in the war, explains: When a soldier gets out of an army hospital he will most likely be thrown into a “repple depple.”

2006, Peter Karsten, Encyclopedia of War and American Society, page 1115:


repo depot

repo depots (plural)
repo depo (alternative)


repo depo

(military, slang) Alternative form of repo depot


replacement depot

replacement depot (plural replacement depots)

(all slang)

(US, military) A unit containing reserves or replacements for large front-line formations such as field armies.


RNZAF

Royal New Zealand Air Force
w:Royal New Zealand Air Force

(New Zealand, military, aviation) Initialism of Royal New Zealand Air Force.


Private

(military) Alternative letter-case form of private


Big Blue 82

(military, slang) The BLU-82 bomb, known for its ability to flatten a forest into a helicopter landing zone.


bean rag

(naval slang) A pennant displayed on a ship at mealtimes.


TACAMO

Shortened from take charge and move out.

(US, military) A system of survivable communications links designed to relay signals between decision-makers and weapon delivery systems in the event of nuclear war.


binnacle list

Traditionally posted on or near the binnacle.

(US, military) A sick list indicating those people excused from duty for health reasons.


penetration aid

penetration aid (plural penetration aids)

(military) Any device or tactic used to increase an ICBM warhead's chances of penetrating a target's defenses.


people sniffer

(US, military, historical) Any of a series of devices used to detect concealed enemy soldiers by traces of effluents such as sweat and urine.


dhobi dust

(UK, naval slang) Laundry detergent in powder form.


antisplinter

(military) Resistant to fragments of exploding shells.


in rag order

He looks to be in rag order, one hand on the wall to hold himself up, the other one on his trousers, to hold them up by the looks of it. It's fairly cold out and he's making slow progress to wherever he's headed.

2003, Donal Ruane, Tales in a Rearview Mirror, page 80:

We took over the plant in rag order but had to hand it over as per BAOR standards. So light bulbs that weren't working on the dashboard had to be replaced, an A type job, or Operator job.

2009, Julian Beirne, Diary of a Sapper, page 289:

Our parents left the world in reasonably good shape but I've a horrible feeling we'll be leaving it in rag order. And I'm in rag order, myself. I'm halfway down the stairs in the morning before I'm convinced that I'm awake, that I'm actually alive.

(UK, Ireland, military, slang) In a state of mess or chaos.


go code

(US, military) A launch code to commence a nuclear attack.


goon suit

After lunch we were all togged up in the most incredible gear, known as goon suits. Orange rubber with welded seams, no shape except for two arms and two legs with feet rather like a rubber baby-grow and just about as difficult to put on […]

1983, Maria Buxton, Antarctic Diary: A Letter to Her Family, page 16:

(UK, military, slang) A waterproof rubber coverall worn by pilots.


giggle suit

In this instance, Marty's giggle suit was many sizes too large for him so complete with slouch hat and great red-brown, steel-tipped Army boots, off he went […]

1976, Ken Clift, The Soldier who Never Grew Up, page 37:

(Australia, military, slang) Army fatigues.


transclassify

en-verb

transclassify (third-person singular simple present transclassifies, present participle transclassifying, simple past and past participle transclassified)

transclassifies (present singular third-person)
transclassifying (participle present)
transclassified (participle past)
transclassified (past)

(military, transitive) To change the status of (information) from one classification level (e.g. RD or FRD) to another.


transclassification

(military) The process of transclassifying information.


scorp

(military, slang, dated) A resident of Gibraltar.


sand and spinach

He left to supervise the repainting of the Flying Fortress. It was already beginning to sport the British "sand and spinach" color scheme […]

2012, Stuart Slade, A Mighty Endeavor, page 81:

(military, colloquial) A form of camouflage in dull green and olive colors.


junk gun

Saturday-night special
Saturday-night special#English

(US, firearms, slang) Synonym of Saturday-night special


dog and maggot

[…] a bit of fried bacon for his breakfast, some 'dog and maggot' (biscuit and cheese) for his dinner, and 'rooty' and 'pozzy' (bread and jam) for his tea.

2009, Alan Weeks, Tea, Rum & Fags: Sustaining Tommy, 1914-18, page 8:

(UK, military, slang, dated, derogatory) Cheese and crackers.


brass up

brass up (third-person singular simple present brasses up, present participle brassing up, simple past and past participle brassed up)

brasses up (present singular third-person)
brassing up (participle present)
brassed up (participle past)
brassed up (past)

The next time I met RSM Simpson was when we were together being 'brassed up' by enemy artillery and mortar […]

I went back in and threw a hand-grenade under the bed and then I brassed up the house. They were dead, of course.

1987, Stuart Rintoul, Ashes of Vietnam: Australian voices, page 126:


brig rat

(US, military, slang) Somebody who has spent time in the brig; an offender in the military.


SARMO

artificial intelligence
artificial intelligence

(military, robotics, artificial intelligence) Abbreviation of sense and react to military objects.; A technology methodology for automated weapons response


STUFT

(UK, military) Acronym of ship taken up from trade: a civilian ship requisitioned for government use.


flaps and seals

(espionage) The covert interception and examination of postal mail.


flog the clock

flog the clock (third-person singular simple present flogs the clock, present participle flogging the clock, simple past and past participle flogged the clock)

flogs the clock (present singular third-person)
flogging the clock (participle present)
flogged the clock (participle past)
flogged the clock (past)

I recall that I was in the second mate's watch when he accused me of flogging the clock. He did not see me put it forward but obviously he knew the ways of boys.

1956, New South Wales. Parliament, Parliamentary Debates, page 1449:

On one trip three lads on night watch all had the same idea, and when the skipper went up to the wheelhouse the following morning he was spitting mad, wanting to know who'd flogged the clock a half-hour forward.

2011, Jimmy Buchan, Trawlerman: Life at the Helm of the Toughest Job in Britain:

(naval slang) To set the clock forward in order to shorten one's time on watch.


paddlefoot

The day after Tommy quit, a paddlefoot soldier on the base made a disparaging remark about Tommy to Sorrow Sorrel, the tail gunner, and Sorrow beat the living hell out of the paddlefoot.

1944, Oram C. Hutton, Andrew A. Rooney, Air Gunner, page 116:

He was a paddlefoot undeniably, and it seemed that I might have spared myself any worry about a hero's death. Still, I could never quite get rid of the lurking notion that he was marked for sudden and outlandish extinction.

1968, MacKinlay Kantor, The Day I Met a Lion, page 34:

(military, aviation, slang) A member of the groundcrew.


prisoner's friend

Prior to trial a soldier would be offered the assistance of an officer to act as 'prisoner's friend'. In essence the officer acted as defending counsel, although little is heard of legally qualified officers appearing. Foolishly some men declined this assistance, although more often than not the officer was unskilled in advocacy.

1990, Julian Putkowski, Julian Sykes, Shot at Dawn:

I was 'counsel for the defence', or 'prisoner's friend'. My chap had deserted for nearly two years and spent six months in a civvy jug. With papers under my arm and serious countenance I visited him in his cell day after day, […]

1998, John Gunn, Dear Descendants: Recollections for a Gunn Family History 1945-1957, page 19:

(military, historical) An officer acting as counsel for the defendant in a court-martial.


cake and wine

After a week of privation on pound cake and white wine (strangely the Navy's slang for solitary confinement on bread and water was "cake and wine") Carlsen received warm nourishment.

1980, The Compass, volumes 50-52, page 26:

If one was 5 minutes late he got three days bread and water for a first offense. A second time got the culprit 5 days. Insolence and/or insubordination earned one a deck court-martial with 10 days on "cake and wine".

2009, Chester A. Wright, Black Men and Blue Water, page 222:

[…] and the skipper threw him in the brig for five days on cake and wine (bread and water, in navy slang).

2011, Stephen Curley, The Ship That Would Not Die:

(US, naval slang) A restricted diet of bread and water, imposed as a disciplinary measure.


Captain's Cloak

“Growl you may, but go you must,” Lewrie laughed, clapping him on the shoulder in parting. “Old Navy proverb. Might be the Thirty-Seventh Article of War, hey, right after 'The Captain's Cloak'?”

Pigot then opened a copy of the Articles of War, and started reading from number thirty-six (the so-called 'Captain's Cloak') which covered 'All other crimes not capital […]

(colloquial, UK, naval, historical) The 36th and last of the Articles of War, effectively giving the ship's captain free rein in disciplining the crew: "All other crimes not capital committed by any person or persons in the fleet, which are not mentioned in this act, or for which no punishment is hereby directed to be inflicted, shall be punished by the laws and customs in such cases used at sea."


Point

Study goes on until tattoo, which, when Pops was at the Point, was sounded at 9.30, followed by taps at 10.

(informal, military) USMA (United States Military Academy) in West Point, New York.


Charlie Noble

Uncertain; said to allude to an officer or captain of this name who insisted on having the funnel polished.

One of the last customs that passed from the decks of the modern navy was the “shooting of Charlie Noble.” The chimney or galley-stack of the ship's kitchen was dignified by the name of Charlie Noble, and when the galley-stack became clogged with soot the ship's cook fired a blank cartridge up it, loosening the soot.

1917, Orton Porter Jackson, Frank Edgar Evans, The Marvel Book of American Ships, page 357:

Charlie Nobles should be fitted with cowls which will automatically turn to leeward and thereby force the draught. A Charlie Noble should be demountable and the hole through the cabin roof should be covered by a strong, tight-fitting lid.

1945, Harold Augustin Calahan, Learning to Cruise, page 120:

(naval slang) A funnel for discharging smoke from the galley.


Cinderella liberty

en-noun

Cinderella liberty (countable and uncountable, plural Cinderella liberties)

After the fairy-tale character Cinderella, who is instructed to leave the ball by midnight before the enchantments that allow her to be there come to an end.

(military, slang) A period of leave that ends at midnight.


countercity

A countercity strike would be a direct and intentional attack against noncombatants, representing a violation of noncombatant immunity on a mass scale—this besides the disproportionality of the destruction such a countercity strike would entail.

1982, Military Chaplains' Review, volumes 132-135:


bleed the monkey

en-verb

bleed the monkey (third-person singular simple present bleeds the monkey, present participle bleeding the monkey, simple past and past participle bled the monkey)

bleeds the monkey (present singular third-person)
bleeding the monkey (participle present)
bled the monkey (participle past)
bled the monkey (past)

He invented the 'monkey fist' — a knot which gives weight to a heaving line; the union plate he called a 'monkey face' and, in times of merrymaking, he frequently 'bled the monkey' to get his grog.

1969, Lookout: Annual report issue, volumes 60-62:

(naval slang) Synonym of suck the monkey (“to surreptitiously drink alcohol from a cask through an inserted tube”)


blue-water navy

en-noun

blue-water navy (plural blue-water navies)

(military, nautical) A naval force capable of independent military operations on the open sea with a global reach.


BAMBI

(military) Initialism of ballistic missile boost intercept.


barrack stanchion

barrack stanchion (plural barrack stanchions)

(naval slang) A sailor who remains on land for a long time, not taking any sea voyage.


baton round

(firearms) Any of various generally non-lethal projectiles made of plastic, rubber, wood, etc.


NJP

NJP (countable and uncountable, plural NJPs)

(military) Initialism of nonjudicial punishment.


M&V

(military, historical) Initialism of meat and vegetable (rations).


defence in depth

defence in depth (countable and uncountable, plural defences in depth)

defences in depth (plural)
defense in depth (alternative)

(military) A strategy that seeks to delay rather than prevent the advance of an attacker, potentially yielding a limited amount of territory in order to stress the attacker's logistics and reduce their momentum.


in the field

An English medical officer has described an apparatus for the generation of chlorine gas which was used for sterilization of water in the field.

Even if the Soviets do not intend to use chemical weapons unless they are first attacked themselves by poisonous gas, it is inconceivable that such munitions would not be available in the field.

1987, Radio Free Europe Research - Volume 12, Issues 13-21, page 18:

Running short after a couple of chaotic days in the field, Hamer hoped to have the batteries by nightfall, when the company would need them the most.

2017, Warren K. Wilkins, Nine Days in May, page 261:

Set against the level of their activity in the field, the companies would argue that such losses were a small percentage of the people notionally at risk.

2009, Tony Geraghty, Soldiers of Fortune, page 188:

(military) Actively engaged in fighting or dealing with the enemy; in battle or on maneuvers.


canteen cowboy

On the basis that if you cannot beat them, join them, some, like Private 'Umbriago' Hillier, who was later to prove his guts and character, emulated all the traits of the seasoned veteran. He earned the reputation of being 'a canteen cowboy' and a 'tailboard Romeo', always chatting up the girls at the NAAFI canteen and ogling and whistling at girls from the back of the Company transport.

1979, Ron Kent, First In!: Parachute Pathfinder Company, page 79:

No stiff upper lips, no coal-scuttle jaws, in fact none of the cliches. What the Boultings earlier Desert Victory did for the front line here, this film does for the canteen cowboy and the Whitehall warrior.

1984, Geoff Hurd, National fictions: World War Two in British films and television, page 40:

For one thing, he wanted to see if anyone was following Ricketts. The Cockney had been thrown out of SAS because he was a loner and a canteen cowboy.

1985, J. C. Winters, Berlin Fugle, page 307:

To my shame, I've been as guilty of macho bollocks in this regard as the dustiest canteen cowboy.

(aviation, military, slang) An aviator who spends his time flirting with or picking up girls at the canteen.


hard kill

Coordinate term: soft kill

(military) The neutralization of an incoming munition by destroying it rather than avoiding it.


soft kill

Coordinate term: hard kill

(military) The neutralization of an incoming munition by avoiding it rather than destroying it.


manhaul

manhaul (countable and uncountable, plural manhauls)

manhauls (plural)
man-haul (alternative)

During his years at SRF, Kooch never missed the manhauls (meals) at 1100 and 1600. […] Through the years as his hearing got bad, Kooch would not hear the Whistle. Since then, manhauls were delayed until he was found and ushered aboard.

1998, Dirk Anthony Ballendorf, editor, U.S. Naval Ship Repair Facility: Guam History Book: 1945 to 1997, United States Department of Defense, page 54:


HTMS

(military, nautical) Initialism of His Thai Majesty's Ship., a ship prefix for the Royal Thai Navy.

His/Her Majesty's Ship; His/Her Britannic Majesty's Ship; His/Her Danish Majesty's Ship; His/Her Dutch Majesty's Ship; His/Her; Majesty's Ship; Netherlands or Norway; His/Her Norwegian Majesty's Ship; His/Her Swedish Majesty's Ship; non-specific use; dated American English

HMSHBMS ()HDMS ()HNLMS ()HNMSHNoMS ()HSwMS ()

His/Her Majesty's Australian Ship; His/Her Majesty's Canadian Ship; His/Her Majesty's Indian Ship; His/Her Majesty's New Zealand Ship; His/Her Majesty's South African Ship

HMSHMAS ()HMCS ()HMIS ()HMNZS ()HMSAS ()


HMSAS

(military, nautical) Initialism of His or Her Majesty's South African Ship., a ship prefix for the South African Naval Forces or its predecessor South African Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, of the Dominion of South Africa, used from WWI through WWII

His or Her Majesty's South African Ship

His/Her Majesty's Ship; His/Her Britannic Majesty's Ship; His/Her Danish Majesty's Ship; His/Her Dutch Majesty's Ship; His/Her; Majesty's Ship; Netherlands or Norway; His/Her Norwegian Majesty's Ship; His/Her Swedish Majesty's Ship; His/Her Thai Majesty's Ship; non-specific use; dated American English

HMSHBMS ()HDMS ()HNLMS ()HNMSHNoMS ()HSwMS ()HTMS ()

HMSHMAS ()HMCS ()HMIS ()HMNZS ()

His/Her Majesty's Australian Ship; His/Her Majesty's Canadian Ship; His/Her Majesty's Indian Ship; His/Her Majesty's New Zealand Ship


RCPO

Several of the recruits had special leadership responsibilities within the Company, the most significant being the Recruit Chief Petty Officer (RCPO) and the Recruit Master at Arms (RMA). The RCPO was the senior recruit and was responsible for just about everything; he reported directly to the CC.

2013, David Banagis, Twenty-Three Days at Sea: A Sailor's Story, Bloomington, IN: Abbott Press, →ISBN, page 12:

chief petty officer
chief petty officer#English

(military) Initialism of recruit chief petty officer.


LTJG

Proving that there was no such thing as complete relaxation during recruit training a sudden, “attention on deck!” was barked out by the compartment Fire Watch. The attention on deck was to announce the presence of the Battalion Commander, LTJG Walker.

2013, David Banagis, Twenty-Three Days at Sea: A Sailor's Story, Bloomington, IN: Abbott Press, →ISBN, page 14:

lieutenant junior grade
lieutenant junior grade#English

(US, military) Abbreviation of lieutenant junior grade.


CHINFO

Back at the bed-and-breakfast, there was a message from Steve Stafford.
 She dialed the number: CHINFO at the Pentagon.

1996, William Martin, Annapolis, New York: Tom Doherty Associates, published 2010, →ISBN, page 343:

That was not going to happen, because the Navy's Chief of Information (CHINFO) had placed some age restrictions in my way that meant YN School it would be.

2013, David Banagis, Twenty-Three Days at Sea: A Sailor's Story, Bloomington, IN: Abbott Press, →ISBN, page 18:

(US, military) Abbreviation of United States Navy Chief of Information.


landship

armored combat vehicle
armored combat vehicle#English

(archaic, military, 19th century to pre-WWI) An armored combat vehicle, a tank

(archaic, military) A superheavy tank, supertank


land battleship

land battleship (plural land battleships)

From being a vehicle akin to an battleship (“an armored warship”) on land.

armored combat vehicle
armoured combat vehicle#English

(archaic, military, 19th century to pre-WWI) An armored combat vehicle; a tank.

(archaic, military) A superheavy tank; a supertank.


sitout

sitouts (plural)
sit out (alternative)
sit-out (alternative)

. From this position, start a sitout by extending your left leg. Drop your opponent, but keep a firm hold on his arm.

I throw my best moves from here. I walk out on him — "crawl" out, actually, charging on my hands and knees, like a giant little kid escaping from his playpen; then I explode into a sitout and reverse for two points.

2015, Terry Davis, Vision Quest, page 9:

Her husband, Dick Jr., was a longtime assistant coach at Norwalk, and Janella proudly claimed that she knew a sitout when she saw one.

2003, Nolan Zavoral, A Season on the Mat:

(wrestling) A wrestling move that is often used to escape from a hold in which one straightens one's legs to get into a sitting position where one can use them for leverage.


weaponsman

For example, a fairly new rating in the Navy is that of nuclear weaponsman. Before this rating was established, a very thorough analysis of enlisted duties in nuclear weapons units was made.

1960, Tri-service Conference on Job Qualifications Analysis, page 5:

LT Coulombe was commissioned from the ranks in 1969, after 11 years enlisted as an underwater weaponsman.

1980 Winter, “New Canadfian Forces Exchange Officer Arrives at NEDU”, in Faceplate, volume 11, page 5:

The division also maintains a mockup ASROC (antisub rocket) mounting, to train weaponsmen from west coast ships fitted with ASROC.

1982, Sentinel - Volumes 18-19, page IVI:

We had three automatic-weaponsmen in a SEAL squad at that time. Two carried Stoners, and one had an M-60. 1 was a little too small for the M-60, but I could shoot the Stoner well.

1998, Dennis J. Cummings, The Men Behind the Trident: Seal Team One in Vietnam, page 226:

Laden with mortars, ammo, and a Browning .50-caliber heavy machine gun, the heavy weaponsmen lumbered after the two to the position Gunnar had chosen.

1990, John Lansing, Nguy-Hiem War Zone, page 57:

On the hill to the northeast of the crossroads and the N-32, the 3rd Battalion's provisional company of rifle and light weaponsmen do not know what is going on.

(military, usually qualified by a type of weapon) A soldier who is a specialist in a specific type of weapon.


PowerPoint ranger

PowerPoint ranger (plural PowerPoint rangers)

(military, slang, derogatory) A person with a desk job who tends to produce computerized slide presentations rather than doing anything more useful.


COMSEC

(military) Abbreviation of communications security.


IMINT

imagery intelligence
w:imagery intelligence

(espionage) Abbreviation of imagery intelligence.


backbrief

(military) A summary of a received briefing, given by the briefed person to the commanding officer, to ensure that instructions have been properly understood.


OSINT

(espionage) Acronym of open-source intelligence.


rear naked choke

rear naked choke (plural rear naked chokes)

(martial arts) A chokehold applied from an opponent's back.


Portus Julius

From Latin Portus Iulius (Port Julian).
From Iulius (“Gaius Julius Caesar (Gaius Iulius Caesar)”) + portus.
From the gens Iulia (Julii clan).

(historical, nautical, military) A port on the Gulf of Naples, Mediterranean in Baiae, Italia, Roman Empire, the primary naval base of the Western Empire


Zornhau

(fencing) A powerful, diagonally descending blow.


stewardsman

(US, naval, dated) A steward's mate, or mess attendant.


ukemi

This will also tend to assist in the development of a good style, for it is noticeable that those men with the 'best' and 'freest' styles are also those with the most effective ukemi.

1966, Francis Walter Pearson, Judo Coaching Manual, page 28:

(judo, aikido, martial arts) The set of breakfall and roll techniques used by uke to safely fall and accept attacks from tori.


megaduke

From Byzantine Greek μέγας δούξ (mégas doúx, literally “great leader”). By surface analysis, mega- + duke.

bor

Roger de Flor was given the title of megaduke and the King of Bulgaria's daughter as his wife.

1968, Alan Lloyd, The Spanish Centuries, page 56:

In September 1169 the Byzantine admiral, the megaduke Andronicus Contostephanus, arrived in Tyre […]

1979, Jean Richard, translated by Janet Shirley, The Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, volume 1, page 50:

After Manuel's death, the actual number of ships and sailors under the megaduke had declined significantly, and the sailors tended to consist of unreliable foreigners.

1987, John V. A. Fine, Jr., The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest, page 35:

(historical, military) The commander in chief of the Byzantine navy.


spaceforce

spaceforces (plural)
space force (alternative)
space-force (alternative)

From space + force. Coined in analogy to airforce.

"Wouldn't fit through the window," Lex apologized. "Anyway, a starship's a big responsibility — you're planning to join the spaceforce, aren't you?"

1978, Jonathan Fast, Mortal Gods, →ISBN:

The MSP may eventually become part of a new spaceforce that coordinates the broad range of defensive and offensive space assets. In addition, a new emphasis is being placed upon NASA and the U.S. Air Force to coordinate activity on such a space plane/RLV development.

2003, A Charania, “Operational Capabilities and Legal Implications of a Military Space Plane”, in Proceedings of the Forty-Fifth Colloquium on the Law of Outer Space, volume 45, University of California, School of Law, Part 2002:

Now, the Federation needed some sort of body to enforce its regulations, but the alphas were unable to agree on how to organize this, so Earth, who had the largest and most advanced spaceforce, offered to establish the Federal Fleet

2015, Rachel Searles, The Stolen Moon, →ISBN:

(military, space flight) A military unit involved with outer space and spaceflight.


space force

(military) Alternative form of spaceforce


Rose Cottage

From a stereotypical name for a person's home with roses growing around it, but here ironically referring to the red colour of sores or bleeding.

(naval slang) An isolation ward for treating venereal disease in sailors when ashore.


RINT

(military) Acronym of radiation intelligence.


leopard crawl

(military) A military-specific crawl in which an arm is advanced with the diagonal knee; designed for the smallest silhouette possible with most limbs touching the ground.

Crawling (human)#Leopard crawl/high crawl


LAV

light armoured vehicle
w:light armoured vehicle

(military) Acronym of light armoured vehicle (a type of military armoured car).


Space Force

Spaceforce (alternative)
SpaceForce (alternative)
Space-Force (alternative)

(military) The military spaceforce of a particular armed forces.

United States Space Force
United States Space Force#English

(US, military, politics) Ellipsis of United States Space Force.


United States Space Force

From United States + space + force. Coined in analogy to United States Air Force.

(US, military, politics) The spaceforce of the United States. A branch of the US military dedicated to outer space activities and related support activities.


USSF

U.S.S.F. (alternative)
U. S. S. F. (alternative)
U.S. SF (alternative)
U. S. SF (alternative)
US S.F. (alternative)
US S. F. (alternative)
U.S. Soccer (alternative)
United States Soccer Federation (alternative)

(US, military, politics) Initialism of United States Space Force.


patch box

patch boxes (plural)
patch-box (alternative)
patchbox (alternative)

(firearms) A lidded container fitted to a gun to hold the cloth patches used when shooting round shot.


PT boat

The PT boat is not merely a small boat for attack in rivers and inland seas. It is a deadly offensive weapon for use under the most trying conditions [...]

1943, Lawrence Conant, quoting Charles Edison, “The PT Boats: Weapons of Opportunity”, in William Harrison Fetridge, editor, The Navy Reader:

(military, US) A type of fast motor torpedo boat used by the US Navy during World War II.


screwjob

I will throw out Giant taking title from Flair on RAW. Desperately attempted screwjob did not come off, I can still her Woman's screams, or was that every match of those days:) And I loved it that the Giant didn't sell.

1997 March 26, John0714, “Most Significant Non-Screwjob Matches of All Time?”, in rec.sport.pro-wrestling (Usenet), message-ID <19970326010000.UAA22561@ladder01.news.aol.com>:

What is a screwjob finish and does the finish of last night's Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H match count as one?

2003 December 30, Dont Trust Anybody, “What Is A Screwjob Finish And Does Last Night's Count As One?”, in rec.sport.pro-wrestling (Usenet), message-ID <5dcc46b096e7859a0d6c2914242d6283@news.teranews.com>:

professional wrestling
professional wrestling

(professional wrestling) An incident where management disadvantages a wrestler without their prior knowledge.


FSR

First Strike Ration
w:First Strike Ration

(US, military) Initialism of First Strike Ration.


gyrating angel

(US, military, slang, historical, in the Korean War) A rescue helicopter.


anticipatory retaliation

(military, euphemistic) The carrying out of a preemptive strike.


mag dump

mag dumps (plural)
magdump (alternative)

(firearms, slang) The act of firing at a target continuously or repeatedly until the magazine of ammunition is empty.

The act of firing an entire magazine-full of ammunition from a fully-automatic weapon in a single burst.


mag dump

en-verb

mag dump (third-person singular simple present mag dumps, present participle mag dumping, simple past and past participle mag dumped)

mag dumps (present singular third-person)
mag dumping (participle present)
mag dumped (participle past)
mag dumped (past)
magdump (alternative)

(firearms, slang, intransitive) To perform a mag dump.


contract agent

(espionage) A secret agent recruited by another agent, and having no direct contact with the agency.


stay frosty

stay frosty (third-person singular simple present stays frosty, present participle staying frosty, simple past and past participle stayed frosty)

stays frosty (present singular third-person)
staying frosty (participle present)
stayed frosty (participle past)
stayed frosty (past)

Originally military slang, probably as a reference to keeping one's cool, but with extra emphasis because of the need to stay alert in dangerous situations.

1986, 'Corporal Hicks', Aliens (movie): We're all in strung out shape, but stay frosty, and alert

Nothing bad will happen to you so long as you stay frosty.

2003, Adam Peck, Manja Sachet, Turkey Guide, page 259:

He and a small group of other loyalists stayed frosty and refused to let the unit die.

2007, Sean Michael Flynn, The Fighting 69th: From Ground Zero to Baghdad:

In other words, be aware—stay frosty.

2009, Gregory H. Wahl, Charles A. Bobbitt, It Didn't Play in Peoria:

We may have to move at a moments notice so stay frosty.

2011, J. R. Brice, The Wrath of Mamba, page 267:

(military, slang) To be alert and ready for action, without letting one's fear or other emotions get in the way.


TDY

temporary duty
w:Temporary duty assignment

(military) Abbreviation of temporary duty.


CCT

en-noun

CCT (countable and uncountable, plural CCTs)

(military) Initialism of company combat team.

(military) Initialism of corps combat team.


Logan bar

Introduced by Army Quartermaster Colonel Paul Logan.

(US, military, historical) A hard-textured chocolate bar issued as a military ration.


shopette

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-shopette.wav

From shop + -ette. From being a small general store.

convenience store
convenience store#English

(US, military) Synonym of convenience store


collar tab

(military) insignia worn on the collar of a uniform signifying the wearer’s rank and/or branch


SCS

Specialist Cadet School
w:Specialist Cadet School

(Singapore, military) Initialism of Specialist Cadet School.


ten-hut

Abbreviated form of attention; compare hut § Etymology 2.

When the officer appeared, the sergeant brought the soldiers to attention by shouting, "Squad, ten-hut!"

(US, military) Used to bring a marching band or group of soldiers to attention.


JHP

jacketed hollow point
jacketed hollow point#English

(firearms) Abbreviation of jacketed hollow point.


FMJ

full metal jacket
full metal jacket#English

(firearms) Abbreviation of full metal jacket.


NADEP

(military) Abbreviation of naval aviation depot.


CASREP

(military) Abbreviation of casualty report.


point target

(military) A relatively small target requiring accurate placement of ordnance in order to neutralize or destroy it.


commerce raiding

commerce raiding (countable and uncountable, plural commerce raidings)

Although the Admiralty have published no report on the subject of the last manœuvres, it is generally believed that, during the short period commerce raiding lasted, Sir W. May's fleet, limited as the area was, and stringent as the rules laid down as to exemptions, did far more damage to our trade than the authorities care to make known.

1907, Captain R. N., “Food for Thought”, in The United Service Magazine:

(military, historical) A form of naval warfare that primarily targets enemy merchant ships on the open sea.


DKM

From German DKM, from German Deutsche Kriegsmarine, from deutsch+Kriegsmarine, from Krieg+Marine.

(military, nautical, World War II, initialism) A ship prefix used for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine.

H. M. S.

His Majesty's Ship; United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland


midcard

(professional wrestling) The part of a wrestling show in the middle of the card (programme or schedule). It is less prestigious than the uppercard and more so than the lowcard


midcarder

(professional wrestling) A wrestler who performs in the midcard


uppercard

(professional wrestling) The part of a wrestling show towards the end of the card (programme or schedule). It is the most prestigious part of the show compared to the midcard and lowcard


lowcard

(professional wrestling) The part of a wrestling show at the beginning of the card (programme or schedule). It is the least prestigious part compared to the uppercard and midcard


uppercarder

(professional wrestling) A wrestler who performs in the uppercard


lowcarder

lowcarders (plural)
low-carder (alternative)

(professional wrestling) A wrestler who performs in the lowcard


fireplan

(military) A plan of attack or siege using an array of firearms


bombline

(military) A line or limit beyond which aircraft may make attacks on the enemy without risking damage to their own troops.


requestman

After the ME had made a very convincing case for going on leave Sohail asked his divisional Chief ERA, who was standing behind and to the right of the requestman, “Well, Chief. What do you say?”

2001, Mian Zahir Shah, Bubbles of Water, Or, Anecdotes of the Pakistan Navy, page 224:

If this was considered inadequate, the case went before the captain, who heard 'requestmen and defaulters' at a fixed time. Requestmen might ask for promotion, for special leave or some other privilege.

2017, Brian Lavery, Churchill's Navy: The Ships, People and Organisation, 1939-1945:

(naval) One who submits a formal request.


rezidentura

rezidenturas (plural)
residentura (alternative)

Borrowed from Russian резиденту́ра (rezidentúra).

bor+

резиденту́ра

(espionage) A base of Russian espionage operations within a foreign country.


Commandant

(South Africa, military, historical) Title for the officer in charge of a commando or district.


wire gun

Guns were in rapid transit from Windsor, Portsmouth, Aldershot, Woolwich - even from the north; among others, long wire guns of ninety-five tons from Woolwich.

1898, H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann, page 126:

(weaponry) A former type of canon the construction of which included an internal layer of wire windings.


barrack-room lawyer

en-noun

barrack-room lawyer (plural barrack-room lawyers)

barrack-room lawyers (plural)
barracks room lawyer (alternative)

"Dot" Williams: If you were any kind of senior officer, you wouldn't have sent such an inexperienced young policeman out on such a dangerous job.
 Senior Sergeant Grossmith: Hooked yourself a regular barracks room lawyer, I see.

2012 May 4, Shelley Birse, “Blood and Circuses” (34:38 from the start), in Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, season 1, episode 11:


fleet admiral

fleet admirals (plural)
FADM (alternative)

The last commissioned fleet admiral was William Halsey in 1945. The last to hold the rank was Chester Nimitz, who died 20 February 1966.

(military, historical) The highest rank in the United States Navy, NATO grade OF-10, used only during World War II.

laivastoamiraali

top rank in the US Navy — see also admiral, admiral of the fleet


marshal of the RAF

marshal of the RAF (plural marshals of the RAF)

(military) The highest rank in the Royal Air Force, NATO grade OF-10, currently out of use.


bare navy

"Three weeks we had been at sea on bare Navy, when we dropped anchor off Porthaven," said Long Jim. "Bare Navy, you understand, is regulation rations and nothing else, the canteen having run dry; […]

1914, Leslie Cope Cornford, Echoes from the Fleet, page 62:

A tragic memory of Edwardian times, when butter or even margarine was a luxury in the Navy. Living on bare Navy symbolized having to exist on the coarse fare supplied by the Service.

1946, Edwin Radford, Unusual Words and how They Came About, page 15:

Far too often, indeed, it was a case of 'bare Navy', the maritime equivalent to the soldier's 'hard-tack'; […]

1959, Reginald Hargreaves, The Narrow Seas, page 296:

(UK, naval slang) The situation where available food is limited to basic service rations.


ERW

(military) Initialism of enhanced-radiation weapon (“neutron bomb”).

(military) Acronym of explosive remnant of war.


mud slogger

(US, military, slang) An infantry soldier.


rearsight

(firearms) A sight at the rear of a weapon.


morning prayers

When Kennedy was shown the brief at 'morning prayers' he ran his eye down it, tapping the points with his celebrated pencil […]

1998, Society for Army Historical Research (London, England), Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research (page 48)

Morning prayers was the traditional 0800 hours briefing of the CDS, the deputy minister, the vice-chief, deputy chief, and other senior generals as to the current military and other events around the world and in Canada.

2004, Richard Rohmer, Generally Speaking: The Memoirs of Major-General Richard Rohmer, page 410:

He expected the day's “Morning Prayers,” as these sessions were known at NDHQ, to be routine: a few words from the intelligence staff, brief reports on the status of deployed units and ships, summaries of the last day's activities from deployed units overseas, comments on major exercises, and the status of the one active search-and-rescue operation […]

(military, slang) A military briefing session held in the morning.


mother bomb

(military) A munition that scatters bomblets across a wide area.


slum gun

slum guns (plural)
slum-gun (alternative)


air commode

The Air Commode (as we christened him) wanted someone to go to Achill with him[…]

2000, John Townend, Broad Oceans and Narrow Seas, page 132:


AC Plonk

He had recently been on leave, wearing the uniform of an AC Plonk (newly joined airman) […]

2002, V. G. Renouf, Forfeit to War, page 207:

(military, slang, historical) aircraftman second class in the RAF


USFK

United States Forces Korea
w:United States Forces Korea

(US, military) Initialism of United States Forces Korea.


USINDOPACOM

United States Indo-Pacific Command
w:United States Indo-Pacific Command

(US, military) Abbreviation of United States Indo-Pacific Command.


USFJ

(US, military) Initialism of United States Forces, Japan.


USFI

(US, military) Initialism of United States Forces - Iraq.


sir sandwich

Coordinate term: ma'am sandwich

"Yes, sir, I am wearing glasses, sir!" “Don't give me a sir sandwich! Since you are wearing glasses, you are an NFOC, not an AOC.

I replied that he was, with a "sir sandwich" (wedging my response between "sir's").

2002, Nancy Mace, Mary Jane Ross, In the Company of Men: A Woman at the Citadel, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 176:

“Sir, yes, sir.” “Are you at the Naval Academy?" “Sir, no, sir.” “Then stop making sir sandwiches, candidate. lt's 'yes, sir' or 'no, sir.'"

2009, Craig M. Mullaney, The Unforgiving Minute: A Soldier's Education, Penguin, →ISBN:

Speaking of that, you will always address us with a 'sir sandwich.' A sir sandwich or a ma'am sandwich ... is you putting a sir or ma'am at the beginning of your sentence and at the end of your sentence.

2013, Martin L. Lockett, PALPABLE IRONY: LOSING MY FREEDOM TO FIND MY PURPOSE, Author House, →ISBN, page 123:

You will only say 'sir' at the beginning of the sentence. This is not the Marine Corps, this is the Army, we do not make sir sandwiches.

2014, David Lipsky, Absolutely American: Four Years at West Point, HMH, →ISBN, page 152:

(military, slang) The practice of beginning and ending a sentence with the address of sir.


have a visual on

en-verb

have a visual on (third-person singular simple present has a visual on, present participle having a visual on, simple past and past participle had a visual on)

has a visual on (present singular third-person)
having a visual on (participle present)
had a visual on (participle past)
had a visual on (past)

“We have a visual on you,” the pilot of Gopher Alpha stated, ...

2012, Robert G. Davis, Ten Short Mysteries, iUniverse, →ISBN, page 102:

“Hey, partner, where the hell's your twenty? I should have a visual on you by now and I' m overdue to begin my rounds.”

2004, Michael Pinchot, Panamanian Tundra, Xlibris Corporation, →ISBN, page 157:

“This is Alpha Sky Four. I have a visual on the suspect running east on Hudson Avenue.

2012, Sherard H. Adams, The Prince of Pentium: A Life of a Hustler and a Computer Hacker, Trafford Publishing, →ISBN, page 25:

(transitive, law enforcement and military) see


AFS

(military, aviation) Initialism of air force station.


andartes

(military) The Greek resistance, and its members, during World War II


main guard

(military) A body of troops comprising the chief guard units, especially a unit of cavalry on the wing of a camp towards the enemy, or a group of soldiers in a fortress responsible for dealing with disturbers of the peace.

[A]fter an obstinate engagement, in which divers wounds were given and received, every soul of them was taken, and conveyed to the main-guard, where the commanding officer […] set them all at liberty […].

1751, [Tobias] Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC:

(fortification) The keep of a castle; a guardhouse or building in a fortress where such a body of troops is lodged.


French 75

(military, historical) The Canon de 75 modèle 1897, an artillery piece capable of firing 75 mm shells.


tripflare

(military) A device consisting of tripwire that sets off a flare when triggered, used to warn of intruders.


NVA

North Vietnamese
North Vietnamese#English

(military, historical) Initialism of North Vietnamese Army.


goolie chit

Officers hoped the document would see them returned home with their goolies (testicles) intact.

There was one other thing. If the goolie chits didn't prove all that persuasive, we each had a big .45 in a canvas holster around our waist, and Hudd and his man had Stirlings.

2010, David Fiddimore, Silent War, page 391:

"My oath," he said, "here's a man got his goolie chit. And I left mine behind. How fat can you get?"
"I've got mine," said Ward quietly, tapping his pocket.
"It's not your goolies I'm worried about," said Curnow.

(UK, military, slang) A document addressed to civilians in a combat zone offering a reward for safe return of a downed airman.


juwaub

These offices are often to be filled up, their untiring perseverance occasioning the secession of a member, who, after having sustained repeated juwaubs, is accepted at last, […]

1836, The Asiatic Journal and Monthly Register for British and Foreign India, China, and Australasia, page 97:

(India, dated, British military slang) A formal refusal.


juwaub

juwaub (third-person singular simple present juwaubs, present participle juwaubing, simple past and past participle juwaubed)

juwaubs (present singular third-person)
juwaubing (participle present)
juwaubed (participle past)
juwaubed (past)

(transitive, India, dated, British military slang) To refuse or rebuff.


nose-ender

Sayers won first blood by cutting Crouch's right eye, and the battle by knocking his man out with a nose-ender in 12 minutes 28 seconds, 6 rounds being fought.

1879, Ed James, The Lives and Battles of the Champions of England, page 39:

(boxing, slang, dated) A straight blow delivered full on the nasal promontory.


Flemish account

en-noun

Flemish account (plural Flemish accounts)

(naval, slang, obsolete) A tangled and unsatisfactory account or reckoning.


rogue's yarn

(naval, historical, slang) A thread of red, blue or gold worsted, worked into the ropes manufactured in the government Royal dockyards, to identify them if stolen. Red for Pompey (Portsmouth), Blue for Guz (Plymouth), Gold for Chatham. Also a blue thread worked into canvas for the same purpose.


morale patch

(military) Any humorous or unofficial patch worn by military personnel to identify their unit or team or to provide esprit de corps.


troopie

As a troopie in the army with many friends in African units, it is an embarrassment to be called on to operate with these men to find I am paid more than those whose command I am under.

1977, United States. Joint Publications Research Service, Translations on Sub-Saharan Africa (issues 1841-1848, page 86)

A troopie with a north-of-England accent says it would be just like taking a battalion of the IRA and sticking them in with the army in Ulster.

1983, David Caute, Under the Skin: The Death of White Rhodesia, page 187:

(South Africa, military, slang) A trooper; a private.


Param Vir Chakra

(chiefly India, military) The highest military decoration awarded in India.


niramiai

(sumo) The staredown between sumo wrestlers before a match.


hangar rat

(military, slang) An air base employee who is not a pilot.


OPREP

(military) Abbreviation of operations report.


horizontal escalation

Coordinate term: vertical escalation

(military) The escalation of a conflict by attacking an additional geographic region.


vertical escalation

Coordinate term: horizontal escalation

(military) The escalation of a conflict by using more resources or more powerful weapons.


LOW

(military) Acronym of launch on warning.


LUA

(military) Acronym of launch under attack.


DEFSMAC

(US, military) Acronym of Defense Special Missile and Astronautics Center.


defector-in-place

(espionage) A person who defects to a foreign power but remains in their home country so as to gather information etc.


denied area

(US, espionage) An extremely hostile operational environment with heavy surveillance.


Dense Pack

densepack (alternative)
Densepack (alternative)

intercontinental ballistic missile
intercontinental ballistic missile

(military) The strategy of grouping intercontinental ballistic missile silos together in a line, so that the debris resulting from the destruction of one silo would form a protective layer for the others.


Qts.

From English term quarters, i.e. living quarters, by shortening.

Name and Address of Person Who Will Always Know Your Address:

1943, James Longuemare Mooney, draft registration card:

Priced for quick sale, call 83-2127 after 4:00. Qts. 2151 Curundu.

1958 December 18, “For Sale:—Boat”, in Harmodio Arias, editor, The Panama American, volume 34, Colón: The Panama American Press, Inc., →OCLC, Classifieds, page 10, column 6:

(US, military, in postal addresses) Abbreviation of quarters used when addressing mail.


Qtrs.

(see table below)

1989 August 18, “DODDS School Bus Routes -- Pacific”, in Colin Hale, editor, The Tropic Times, volume 2, number 29, Quarry Heights, Panama: United States Southern Command and Armed Forces Information Program, →OCLC, page 8, column 2:


return fire

(military) The firing initiated after receiving incoming fire.


return fire

en-verb

return fire (third-person singular simple present returns fire, present participle returning fire, simple past and past participle returned fire)

returns fire (present singular third-person)
returning fire (participle present)
returned fire (participle past)
returned fire (past)

(military) To shoot at the person from whom fire is being received


air cover

/ˈɛə ˌkʌv.ə/

/ˈɛː ˌkʌv.ə/

/ˈɛɹ ˌkʌv.ɚ/

But if the Government really wants our railway to reduce the level of its subsidy and improve value for taxpayers' money, then it must provide the political air cover to enable managers to get on and make the hard decisions that are needed... and then see them through.

2022 January 12, Sir Michael Holden, “Reform of the workforce or death by a thousand cuts?”, in RAIL, number 948, page 25:

(military) protection (of land or sea operations) by aircraft


(military) Initialism of command, control, communications and intelligence.

(military) Initialism of command, control, communications and information.


radius of action

en-noun

radius of action (plural radii of action or radiuses of action)

radii of action (plural)
radiuses of action (plural)

(military) maximum distance a ship, vehicle, etc. can travel away from its base without refueling


Thud

The aircraft with the most threatening mission and highest loss rate was the F-105 Thunderchief. Of 833 "Thuds" built, 382 were lost between 1965-1972.

2002, US Naval Academy Class of 1954, 2nd edition:

The F-105 Thunderchief was already the air force's workhorse in Vietnam, flying three-quarters of Rolling Thunder sorties and suffering the highest casualties. […] We do know Thuds were very fast, could take a beating, and packed a big punch.

2014, John McCain, Mark Salter, Thirteen Soldiers: A Personal History of Americans at War, page 255:

(US, military, dated slang) Republic F-105 Thunderchief jet ground attack fighter.


reachback

(military) The ability to exploit resources and capabilities located elsewhere.