nine-inch plank

chained_bear commented on the word nine-inch plank

Said of men in the navy (or presumably in the merchant marine as well) in the time of sailing vessels. Usage:

"'I have heard their levity put down to there being no more than a nine-inch plank between them and eternity,' said Martin.

"'Nine-inch?' said the purser, laughing heartily. 'Why, if you are given to levity with nine inches under you, what must you be in a little old light-built frigate? A flaming gas-balloon, no doubt. God—dear me, there are parts of Surprise's bottom where you could push a penknife through with ease. Nine-inch! Oh lord, ha, ha, ha!'"

--Patrick O'Brian, The Far Side of the World, 259

And one more, "...with an easy mind, or at least with a mind as easy as was right in one who had spent most of his life on the sea, that dangerous, utterly unreliable element, with nothing but a plank between him and eternity." (p. 14)

I don't know why I find this such a compelling thought.

February 23, 2008

bilby commented on the word nine-inch plank

C_b is adept at tracking down characters who laugh with commas.

August 21, 2008

chained_bear commented on the word nine-inch plank

Oh, ha, ha, ha!

August 21, 2008

reesetee commented on the word nine-inch plank

My goal in life is to hear someone actually laugh like that. :-)

August 21, 2008

Prolagus commented on the word nine-inch plank

Paddy, Clarke?

August 21, 2008

reesetee commented on the word nine-inch plank

Not enough commas.

August 21, 2008

chained_bear commented on the word nine-inch plank

My goal is to hear someone laugh like that who's not being sarcastic and acting annoyed that someone else is laughing.

August 21, 2008

reesetee commented on the word nine-inch plank

Oh? Ha, ha, ha!

August 21, 2008

chained_bear commented on the word nine-inch plank

Yay! I've achieved my goal!!

August 21, 2008

reesetee commented on the word nine-inch plank

My work here is done, then. :-)

August 21, 2008