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in the early days who ordered all hands to be
aboard by sunset.
TAR
Sailors once covered their clothes with tar or
oil to make them waterproof; hence, the nickname
often applied to mariners.
TATTOO
Tattoo is derived from the old clutch term
taptoe, meaning the time to close the taps
or taverns. At the appointed hours, drummers
marched from post to post in the town, beating
their drums. “First post” was the signal given
when they had taken their place and were ready
to commence their rounds (this signal survives in
the Navy as “first call”), while “last post” was
sounded when they had reached the end of their
rounds (this signal survives as our present
“tattoo”). The “first call” is sounded 10 minutes
before “taps”; “tattoo,” 5 minutes before
“taps. “ “Taps” is the signal for lights out.
TONNAGE
Today tonnage refers to a ship’s displacement
in the water or the gross pounds of cargo it is
capable of carrying. In the days of sail, tonnage
was spelled “tunnage” and referred to the number
of “tuns” a ship could carry. A “tun” was a
barrel normally used for transporting wine, and
tunnage specified the number of barrels that
would fit into the ship’s hold.
AII-8
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