Well, here we go again.

I've just heard from Danny and Joyce McCleod who say:

'A bone in her mouth' refers to the 'Jimmy Green' sail which is set on a yard slung below the Bow-Sprit and when the ship is heading directly toward you, the ship (not the figure head) appears to have 'a bone in her mouth'

I've asked them where this reference comes from, citing some of the explanations for the phrase given in this thread. I have not heard back from Dave Webber yet on this. Is it possible that there is both a technical and a traditional definition for the phrase?

Radriano