MLU FORUM  

Go Back   MLU FORUM > 'B' ECHELON > The Sergeants' Mess

Notices

 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Prev Previous Post   Next Post Next
  #37  
Old 21-02-06, 23:54
Richard Notton
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: "Monkey"

Quote:
Originally posted by Keith Webb
Wasn't it a brass frame used to keep a pyramid of canon balls in place which contracted with cold causing the balls to be displaced...

But then again, a little research reveals this may be false (although it is common useage now).
Good stuff, ripper mate.

Can't fault that.

In fact a visit to our national hero's battleship, HMS Victory, just down the road from me in Portsmouth Dockyard, will show several brass monkeys correctly rigged with round shot, and all on the protected gun decks.

My own theory is that its partly true, the three-layer pyramid of shot is quite well planted although the monkey has but the smallest dimples to locate the first layer. I suspect manufacturing tolerance back then, plus some arctic cold and a heavy sea may have finally disloged some shot giving rise to the expression said in clever jest at the time, but it stuck.

We will never know for sure.

R.
Reply With Quote
 

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +2. The time now is 11:53.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © Maple Leaf Up, 2003-2016