![]() Upon entering a harbor, the lowest level seaman (usually young boys) were suspended over the side with scrub brush and bucket to clean off the dried dump so the ship would look presentable to the harbor and not offend people with human waste when it was tied up at dock. Other nations like the Spanish used a board suspended out over sea midships, or even somewhat astern for the same purpose. Going to the "beak's head" to relieve yourself eventually got shortened to "the head". Early British ships had an eagle's head with a beak or just the beak at the ship's prow. Thanks!Īctually it was the British sailors who went to the head to relieve themselves. I also appreciate the word origin! You are wonderful. I am truly grateful for the excellent information. In sailing ships, with the helmsman at the stern, an elevated position was ideal for both navigation and observation of the crew and sails. ![]() Thus the poop deck is technically called a stern deck, which in sailing ships was usually elevated as the roof of the stern or "after" cabin, also known as the "poop cabin". The name originates from the French word for stern, la poupe, from Latin puppis. There is a 1950s film of Jason and the Argonauts with the statue on the rear deck. I quote as a source, Leland Lovette 1938 "naval customs and traditions." he was an instructor at Annapolis. A statue of whatever your protector was placed there to watch over the crew. In the ancient times the god image was carried there to watch the ship. This is why you don't believe everything you read on the internet. On sailing ships I have crewed, rather than have a facility at midships -or even "somewhat astern", there was a double bar setup full astern where all waste was kept away from the hull. Maybe if they were in charge of cleaning the defilement of our beautiful ship's deck, they wouldn't do it. I work on a cruise ship and I am in charge of the ship's sanitation and I can't tell you how many times inebriated people think it's funny to leave a pile of excrement on the poop deck. Poupe in French is stern in English poupee in French is doll in English - that extra e makes all the difference.
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