THIS ARTICLE AIN’T NO HARDTACK

An Educated Sailor’s Lingo: 10 Old Whaling Terms Explained

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Even though every profession has its own lingo, few are as colorful as the nautical ones. Maybe it has to do with the sea breeze or the adventurous nature of the people who dared to spend a long time at sea at a time when neither medicine nor safety were very advanced. In any case, the sea has always been a treasure trove of specific terms, and the ancient whaling profession had quite a few idioms of its own. In the following list, we embark on a voyage across ten of these terms. So, scroll on and learn a thing or two, sailor!

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Everybody has to start somewhere, and that includes whaling ships. A green hand was the term used to describe an inexperienced crew member of a 19th-century whaler on his first voyage, who would typically have the smallest "lay", or share, in the profits.

Green hands would usually take care of the simplest chores, like moping the decks, cleaning, and doing the things that the rest of the crew didn’t want to do.

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A very different ranking position, compared to the green hands, was the boatswain, also known as a deck boss or a qualified member of the deck department. This person was the most senior rate of the deck department and was responsible for the components of a ship's hull.

The boatswain supervised the other ship's deck department members, and typically was not a watchstander, except on vessels with small crews. Additional duties varied depending on the ship, crew, and circumstances.

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"Scrimshaw" is the name given to carvings done in bone or ivory, typically created by whalers, and engraved on the byproducts of whales, such as bones or cartilage. It is most commonly made out of the bones and teeth of sperm whales, because of their size.

This art form recreates elaborate engravings of pictures and lettering on the surface of the bone or tooth, with the engraving highlighted using a pigment. Scrimshaw probably began on whaling ships in the late 18th century and survived until the ban on commercial whaling.

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As the name implies, a "Crow’s Nest" is something that is high. Originally, it was a barrel lashed at the highest section of the mainmast where a man was stationed to look for whales or ice.

On ships, this position ensured the widest field of view for lookouts to spot approaching hazards, other ships, or land by using the naked eye or optical devices such as telescopes or binoculars.

Credit: The Australian National Maritime Museum

A "gam" was a social visit between whaling vessels, whalers, or the crew. It was coined in the 1840s and generally means pulling alongside another whaling vessel and "hopping" aboard to enjoy a social meeting.

Gamming was a way of taking a break from the monotony of the sea, seeing different faces, enjoying a pint of grog, some music, relaxing for a while, and helping boost the crew’s morale for all the ships involved

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Back in the days when electricity and refrigeration were not around, food conservation was a complex endeavor, especially onboard ships that sailed for years on end. "Hardtack" is a type of dense cracker made from flour, water, and sometimes salt.

Being inexpensive and long-lasting, it was used for sustenance in the absence of perishable foods, commonly during long sea voyages, land migrations, and military campaigns.

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Whaling vessels were sturdy ships, capable of enduring the hardships of long voyages, and easily fixable, even far away from their home port. The word "hove" is the past tense of "heave", which in a nautical context means to move into a certain direction, position, or situation.

A vessel that is hove down is intentionally laid or tipped onto its side for repair, painting, or cleaning.

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Even to this day, the Cape Horn is a feared place for sailors due to its terrible weather and conditions that have brought disgrace upon many ships. Back in the whaling days, this route was a common passage required to access the Pacific whaling grounds for whalers coming from Nantucket and New Bedford.

A large, square-rigged ship built to withstand the rigors of a Cape Horn passage was known as a Cape Horner.

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A "schooner" is a type of sailing vessel defined by its rig: fore-and-aft rigged on all of two or more masts and, in the case of a two-masted schooner, the foremast generally being shorter than the mainmast. This type of ship was commonly used as a whaling ship.

A topsail schooner also has a square topsail on the foremast, to which may be added a topgallant.

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Having mentioned the crow’s nest in a previous entry, we can complete the description and this whole list with the role that is most usually connected to such a high place on the ship. The lookout is the person at the ship’s crow’s nest, or also bridge, who maintains a continuous watch of the sea to report the sighting of whales or any kind of hazard that can be an obstacle in the navigation and cause harm to the ship.

NO EXCUSES FOR NOT BEING HEALTHY

Getting In Shape: 10 Workout Techniques For Everyone

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If you want to stay healthy, getting in a reasonably decent shape is not a thing you can simply choose to do or not do. It’s a must. The good news is that, according to each goal, different workout methods have varying degrees of intensity. And there is a workout for everybody, no matter how fit or unfit you are.

Read on and find out about some famous and lesser-known techniques that help millions of people every day to achieve a healthier lifestyle and be in a better physical condition overall.

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Let’s start with one of the most obvious ones —and there is good reason for that. Strength training is a key component of overall health and fitness for everyone. It helps reduce body fat, increase lean muscle mass, and burn calories more efficiently.

Lean muscle mass naturally diminishes with age. Strength training can help you preserve and build up your muscle mass at any age. It enables you to develop strong bones, manage your weight, enhance your quality of life, manage chronic conditions, and even sharpen your thinking skills.

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Pilates is one of those exercise methods that gained traction a few years ago. However, it was developed by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century, mostly as a method of injury recovery for dancers. Some of the principles that guide the Pilates method include concentration on each movement, use of the abdomen and lower back muscles, flowing, precise movement patterns, and controlled breathing.

Pilates routines can be performed on specially designed apparatuses, including a bed-like structure called a reformer, or more simply on a mat or blanket. Its main benefits include pain relief, core strength, posture, flexibility, balance and coordination, body awareness, breath control, and mental well-being. Not bad, right?

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As the name implies, functional training is an exercise that looks like movements you make in your daily life. Functional movements use large groups of muscles working together across your body. Picking up a heavy object, swinging a baseball bat, or carrying groceries are real-world situations that functional training helps improve.

For example, a senior individual might practice bodyweight squats to improve his ability to stand up from a chair. These everyday activities can get easier when you train for them. Functional training’s benefits also include balance and coordination, making different parts of your body move together smoothly, and is very helpful for older adults to prevent falling and related injuries.

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You’ve probably seen this one in parks. Tai chi is a practice involving a series of slow gentle movements and physical postures, a meditative state of mind, and controlled breathing. Tai chi originated as an ancient martial art in China. Over the years, it has become more focused on health promotion and rehabilitation.

In this low-impact, slow-motion exercise, you go without pausing through a series of gestures named for animal actions or martial arts moves. The movements are usually circular and never forced, the muscles are relaxed, the joints are not fully extended or bent, and connective tissues are not stretched. Tai chi can be easily adapted for anyone, from the most fit to people confined to wheelchairs or recovering from surgery.

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One of those fun activities that also doubles as a transportation method and a great way to perform a healthy, low-impact exercise that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, from young children to older adults, is cycling.

Riding to work or to do the groceries is one of the most time-efficient ways to combine regular exercise with your everyday routine. Nowadays, an estimated one billion people ride bicycles every day – for transport, recreation, and sport. Are you one of them?

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Another popular exercise, running is an appealing activity because it’s inexpensive and you can do it anytime that suits you. While it is not so great on the joints if done too frequently, running has some great health benefits, like helping build strong bones, strengthening muscles, improving cardiovascular fitness, burning calories, and helping maintain a healthy weight.

Also, running can be a social activity. Some runners choose to participate in fun runs, athletics races, or marathons. These days, a multitude of running clubs can be found online.

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A well-known and healthy workout, yoga offers physical and mental health benefits for people of all ages. If you’re going through an illness, recovering from surgery, or living with a chronic condition, yoga can become an integral part of your treatment and potentially hasten healing.

Yoga improves strength, balance, and flexibility, helps with back pain relief, eases arthritis symptoms, benefits heart health, and enables you to relax and sleep better. Want more? Yoga also helps you manage stress and promotes better self-care.

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You might think of this one as an older people activity, but it’s no longer the case. Some good reasons explain why aqua gym training is becoming more and more popular. Working out in the water is one of the most therapeutic activities one can take part in. Water aerobics builds cardio, strength, and resistance all while being easy on the joints.

The water helps people to move more freely, helping those who suffer from joint problems. Hydrostatic pressure also enables blood flow to circulate more effectively throughout the body. This effectively reduces blood pressure and, in the long run, decreases resting heart rate.

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Surprised to find something as simple and pedestrian (pun intended) as walking on this list? Well, physical activity doesn't need to be complicated. Something as straightforward as a daily brisk walk can help you live a healthier life.

A regular and vigorous walk can help you maintain a healthy weight and lose body fat, prevent or manage various conditions, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer, and type 2 diabetes, improve cardiovascular fitness, strengthen your bones and muscles, improve muscle endurance, increase energy levels, strengthen your immune system, and reduce stress and tension, among other benefits. Not really into running? Try walking!

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Circuit training is a type of training that involves rotating between several exercises that target different muscle groups with minimal rest in between. It’s ideal for those looking for a quick, effective, full-body workout. Circuits range from 8–10 exercises, although that varies based on goals, time available, and the experience levels of the participants. Once all exercises have been completed, you may rest for 1–2 minutes, then repeat. Most circuits are completed 1–3 times.

The types of exercises included in circuit training vary considerably depending on a person’s performance and health goals, experience, mobility, and other factors. Its many benefits include increasing strength, muscle growth, and heart health. It promotes weight loss, improves your mood (as almost any exercise does), and is time efficient.