Jackspeak of the Royal Canadian Navy

Jackspeak Index:
0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

"E" Terms

Easy

Carefully or slowly.

Ebb

A tidal flow towards the sea.

Echo Sounding

Measuring the depth of the water using a sonar device.

ED&T

Exempt From Drill and Training.

Elbow on the table

At a Naval Mess Dinner, diners are forbidden from placing their elbows on the table, with the exception of those who have "gone around" Cape Horn or the Cape of Good Hope. In this case, they are allowed to place one elbow on the table for each of the "capes" they have transited.

Elephant's Foot

The screen covered intake hose for a portable pump.

Elevation

The vertical movement of a gun.

EMCON

Emissions Control. Various conditions of electronic silence. For example, "EMCON Alfa" is total emissions silence while "EMCON Bravo" allows radiation of certain non type-specific emitters.

End for End

The reverse position.

ENDEX

Normal abbreviation for the end of a naval exercise, but can be applied as a euphemism for the finality of other things as well.

Engine Order Telegraph

A signaling system linking bridge and main engineering control; used to command engine speeds.

Engine Room

One of the machinery spaces of a vessel, usually the largest one, containing the ship's main engines.

England expects that every man will do his duty

The signal sent by Admiral Horatio Nelson from his flagship HMS Victory as the Battle of Trafalgar was about to commence.

Ensign

The principal flag or banner flown by a ship to indicate her nationality.

EOD

Explosive Ordinance Disposal.

EOOW

Engineer Officer of (the) Watch.

Epaulette

An ornamental shoulder piece on an item of clothing, typically on the coat or jacket of a military uniform. Derived from the French "epaul" which means shoulder. Present on most Canadian Navy uniforms in the role of rank badges.

ERA

(RCN) Engine Room Artificer.

Euchre

A commonly played trick-taking card game most normally played with four people with a deck of 24 standard playing cards.

Evap

A distilling unit used to produce fresh water at sea, both for the boilers and for potable usage.

Evolution

Refers to any seamanship task that requires special effort or co-ordination. A replenishment at sea or a taking another ship under tow are considered evolutions.

EX

A commonly used suffix that means "Exercise" ie. FIREX. It literally be can be added to anything, whether it is an actual naval exercise or not. Example: "DrinkEX."

Executive Curl

The ring that has been recently reinstated in Officers rank insignia. It's said to date from the Crimean War when it was called "Elliot's Eye" in commemoration of Captain Elliot who acted heroically.

Executive Officer

The second in command of a warship or shore establishment, and responsible to the Captain for the efficient running of the ship. Abbreviated XO.

Eye splice

A closed loop or eye at the end a line, rope, cable etc. It is made by unraveling its end and joining it to itself by intertwining it into the lay of the line.

Eyes in the boat!

Traditionally, an order given to a whaler crew meaning for them to mind their oarsmanship and not be distracted. Today, it is used to correct any sailor that is being distracted in some way.

Eyes of the Ship

The extreme forward end of the ship. When a warship transists through fog, the Officer of the Watch often puts a lookout in the eyes of the ship. Derived from the Greeks, when their ships had large eyes painted on either side of the bow to help the vessel "see" where it was going.

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