Gash Fanny of the Seven Seas

The long thin engraved metal strip in the pavement reads "futtock shrouds".

It conjurs up, when considered in isolation, the typical tone in a script performed by Kenneth William's character Rambling Syd Rumpo from Round the Horne Radio Shows of the 1960's.

More recently but not by much was a silent comedy in 1970 featuring Ronnie Barker and a Who's Who of British comedians and actors entitled "Futtocks End". The "f" word in this instance has great amusement value in its potential derivation and multiple meanings. Buttocks, Bollocks, F***, etc.

Need I say more?.

However, my encounter with the inset engraving relates to a collection of nautical terms arranged in a tourist trail in the centre of the UK City Of Culture for 2017, Kingston Upon Hull or just plain 'Ull.

The role of Hull as a Port goes back many centuries and the maritime traditions remain strong with a large and active Docks dominating the frontage to the Humber Estuary, itself a principal Gateway to Europe. The heritage of a merchant fleet and fishing industry can be seen in street names in the city, the signage of public houses and on those functional buildings that have so far survived the soft ground conditions, wartime bombing and the vandalism of urban planners.

Somewhere not far below the surface is the terminology and language of all things nautical.

Some phrases are now well entrenched in our modern language and at first glance their origins in shipping and in particular the grand old days of sail may not be at first easily discernible. Take "at loggerheads", "letting the cat out of the bag", "loose cannon" and "In the doghouse".

In my search for the actual meaning of futtock shrouds, incidentally a timber frame of standard rigging running from a mast to the sides of a ship to support the mast sideways, I have come across some wonderfully evocative and descriptive words which just roll off the tongue like romantic poetry or send a shiver of fear and trepidation down your spine.

A brief sampling in alphabetical order gives some idea of the richness of the language which will have been in everyday use on board those vessels plying their trade in inland waters or across the world's oceans or in the prowling about in the defence of the Empire.

I have decided not to provide any explanation of terms as it will be far more interesting for you to imagine you own.

Part One covers A to L.......

Apparent Wind
Asylum Harbour
Andrew
Abaft
Athwartships

Baggywrinkle
Balls to four watch
Beakhead
Bimmy
Bitter end
Bottomry
Bulwark

Cape Horn Fever
Captain's daughter
Careening
Club hauling
Coaming
Cringle

Day-blink
Deadeye
Dodger
Drabbler
Dunnage

Embayed
Extremis
Eye Splice

Fardage
Fid
Fluke
Freeboard

Gaff
Gammon Iron
Garbling
Gripe

Hand bomber
Handy billy
Hank
Holiday

Idlers
Iron wind

Jack Dusty
Joggle
Jollies

Kelson
Kissing the gunner's daughter
Kitchen rudder

Lagan
Lazaret
Luff and touch her
Luff up

More to follow.

I have saved one of the best just to get a cheap laugh and now have to go and sort out the Gash Fanny in the back yard before tea time.