FANCY WAISTCOATS
A "matter of fancy waistcoats" is a nicety of detail of no importance to the
major issue.


FATHER
An affectionate familiar name for the Admiral Commanding; sometimes for the
Captain in command, but he is more usually referred to as the OLD MAN. A
staff officer refers to his Admiral as "Master". The word SKIPPER was and is
seldom used in the Navy.


FATHOM
A nautical measurement of six feet; it was the distance between the tips of
middle fingers when the arms are outstretched sideways to their fullest
extent (the word comes from the Danish FAVN meaning "arms extended").
100 fathoms = 1 cable; 10 cables = 1 mile; 3 miles = 1 league.


FEND
To fend a boat or ship is to prevent her striking against any quay, jetty,
vessel or any object which may endanger her; henoe a fender is an object used
to soften the blow.


FETCH
TO FETCH
The orthodox naval verb, of considerable antiquity, meaning to arrive at.


FIDDLE
The old rating of fiddler in the Royal Yacht is now obsolete.


FIDDLES
Wooden frameworks fitted on dining tables to keep crockery etc. in place in
rough weather.


FIRE
ST ELMO'S FIRE
This was aromatic superstition associated with the electrical phenomenon
which appears on the trucks of the masts and at the yard-arms in the form of
faint glowing balls of light during an electric storm. In addition to St
Elmo's Fire, it was known among sailors as "Corposant" and "Jack-o'-Lantern".
The common belief was that it warns sailors of an approaching storm and is
sent by St Elmo in gratitude for his having been saved from drowning by a
ship which, in heavy weather, was hove-to and the saint taken from the water.
The legend is said to have originated in Brittany.


FISHES' EYES
Sailors' slang name for tapioca pudding.


FLAGADMIRALS' FLAGS
When all Admirals' flags were the plain St George's Cross, the rank of the
Admiral was indicated by the masthead at which his flag was flown in his
flagship, viz: rear-admiral at the mizzen, vice-admiral at the fore, admiral
at the main. When 3-masted ships disappeared, admirals' ranks were indicated
on their flags by the inclusion of red roundels in the cantons of the flag
nearest the mast - two for a rear-admiral, one for a vice-admiral, none for
an admiral. In 2-masted ships, the flag of a full admiral (or of a Commander-
in-Chief, whatever his actual rank) is flown at the mains: that of a vice -
or rear-admiral (not being a Commander-in-Chief) at the fore.


THE ADMIRALTY FLAG
Properly called the flag for the Lord High Admiral, the Admiralty flag
displays a gold anchor horizontally on a crimson ground. It was formerly on
the Old Admiralty building, Whitehall, by day and night, and was not half-
masted except on the death of the Sovereign (instructions given by King
Edward VII). When lowered, the flag remained at half-mast until the funeral,
except on the day when the new Sovereign was proclaimed.


As insignia of the Board of Admiralty, this flag was flown whenever two or
more members of the Board and a Secretary, acting as the Board, embarked.
When flown in a flagship it automatically displaced the Admiral's flag which
would otherwise have been flown.


The Admiralty flag is still flown at the foremast head of a warship whenever
the Sovereign is embarked because the Sovereign is, at common law, the Lord
High Admiral, and retains those functions of the office not especially
delegated to the Secretary of State for Defence and the Defence Council. The
flag is flown in the Sovereign's ship to denote that the Sovereign is the
source whence the powers of the Board of Admiralty are derived. The flag was
lowered from OAE on April 30, 1964.


FLAGS
The inevitable general naval nickname for a Flag-Lieutenant (Signal Officer).


FLAGS - JACK AND ENSIGN SIZES
The actual size of jacks and ensigns worn by HM Ships is directed by the
Commander-in-Chief, either in his standing orders or by daily signal. Broadly
speaking, the objective is solely a pleasing appearance; the sizes can
therefore be expected to vary in ships of different classes and sizes. It is
generally considered that a 10-breadth jack, a 16-breadth ensign and a 12-
breadth admiral's flag look well together.


All union flags in the Navy, whether as jacks or flags, are in the proportion
of 2:1; flags ashore (e.g., on churches and public buildings etc.) are 5:3.
In some other navies and services a more square-shaped jack is met (e.g., a
Regimental Colour is 5:4).


FLANNEL
A naval slang word for insincerity (read or imagined) in any form, whether a
"pep-talk" or simple boasting or swank. "Hot air" and "Soft soap" are
civilian synonyms. The word is sometimes used as a verb, meaning to
Bamboozle.


FLARE
The upward and outward curve of a ship's sides at the bows.


FLIMSY
When a Midshipman or an officer leaves any appointment, his Commanding
Officer is required to give him a certificate as to his conduct, &c. This
certificate is on thin ("flimsy") paper. When a Midshipman is before the
Board for examination for Lieutenant, he is expected to produce his past
flimsies for examination by the Board as evidence of his previous good
character and leadership.

FLAT
FLOATERS IN THE SNOW
A sailors' slang name for Sausages and mashed potatoes.


FLOG
FLOGGING
(1) the punishment, see CORPORAL.
(2) a common slang verb of modern introduction for the selling of any article
either illegally obtained or through illegal channels. Though often in fact
used purely as a synonym of 'to sell', the use of this slang word gives the
transaction an aura of impropriety.


FLOGGING THE CAT
The naval conversational synonym of the common expression 'crying over spilt
milk'.


FLOGGING THE MONKEY
An old naval expression for the obtaining of an illicit (and insipid) drink
by rinsing out an empty rum barrel with water; the old type rum tub was
called a Monkey.


FLOTSAM
Floating cargo etc., freed from a wreck or thrown overboard to lighten the
ship. It remains the property of the owners; if not claimed it becomes the
property of the Crown.


FLUNKEY
The inevitable sailors' nickname for an Officers' Steward or a Marine acting
as a Ward Room Attendant.

FLUTE
Ownership of a flute, and proficiency thereon, was at one time regarded in a
ship as the prerogative of the Marine officer.


FOOD
FOOD IN THE NAVY
Of Food in the Navy, Samuel Pepys wrote - "Englishmen and more especially
seamen love their bellies above anything else and therefore it must always be
remembered in the managing of the victualling of the navy that to make any
abatement from them in the quality and agreeableness of the victuals is to
discourage and provoke them in the tenderest point, and will soon render them
disgusted with the King's service more than any other hardship that can be
put upon them."


FORE
FORE AND AFTER
Old officers' slang name for the uniform cocked hat.


FORESHORE
The beach below high water mark.


FORK
FORK IN THE BEAM
An old gun room custom was the thrusting of a fork from the table into an
overhead beam, by the Sub-Lieutenant, as a sign that junior members of the
mess were to leave the gun room without delay.


FREE
FREEBOARD
The height of the weather deck above the water line.


FRIEND
THE SAILOR'S FRIEND
Old Naval instructors' description of a hammock.


FRIGATE
STONE FRIGATE
Naval slang name for any naval shore establishment. Although built of bricks
and mortar on shore - sometimes miles from the sea - all naval shore
establishments have to bear the name of a ship and there must be, somewhere
near, an actual vessel bearing that name.


FROCK COAT AND SWORD
Prior to 1939 officers making formal calls on their Admirals in the course of
their duty - or when sent for by the Admiral - wore frock coats and swords.
The expression is therefore often applied metaphorically to an affair which
must be handled very officially by higher authority.


FROCKERS AND COCKERS
Pre-1939 officers' slang name for frock coat and cocked hat uniform.


FURLOUGH
The Army name for leave, never used in the Navy.