The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #36989   Message #1448238
Posted By: GUEST,Peter the ex-Chief
31-Mar-05 - 03:51 PM
Thread Name: Meaning: Dabtoes (from Chicken on a Raft)
Subject: RE: DABTOES
I'm a retired U.S. Navy Chief Yeoman. Every so often, someone would hear one of CT's songs, particularly Chicken On A Raft. Knowing that I was the font of knowledge for all things maritime and naval, they would ask me for a translation of some of the more obscure terms. Since USN and RN slangs are almost completely different*, I couldn't give them an answer.

*Other terms are different as well. In the RN, a Yeoman is a bunting tosser (one of the few terms that are identical in both navies) while in the USN a Yeoman is an admin and personnel specialist. If anyone cares, I can explain how this difference came about.