The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #48959   Message #3126690
Posted By: GUEST,Russell Slye
01-Apr-11 - 10:54 PM
Thread Name: South Australia:What the hell's a 'Rolling King'?
Subject: RE: What the hell's a 'Rolling King'?
When I was in Perth (about 1970) I met an old sailor in a bar. I found he had sailed on the Moshulu (4 masted barque moored in Philly now) during the grain trade. I asked him about Rolling Kings. His reply (abridged): "We went ashore in India and other places, and heard about a wheel-rolling-king who was a a big boss of everything. Well, when the crew was working hauling, those who wasn't pulling too hard were called rolling kings because they was acting high and mighty." So, it is a derogatory term for slackers.