Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun UK Nickname for a sailor in the Royal Navy.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Jack, a common name for a sailor plus tar, used to waterproof sails as well as the seams between planks on wooden ships (1781). Sailors also used tar for clothing, grooming: their coats and hats, were made of the waterproof fabric called tarpaulin; seamen commonly pleated their long hair into a pigtail and smeared it with high grade tar to prevent it getting caught in the ship's equipment, a practice that continued until the early 20th century. Often a sailor's hands would be stained with tar.

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Examples

  • Includes lists of ships, people, and the story of Stan Rogers 'song "Barrett's Privateers." www. chebucto.ns.ca/~jacktar/privateering. html

    The Spark of Yahoo! 2009

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