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SOLDIER’S SLANG AND JARGON some reward to senior sergeant of good
standing
As you were: Drill command used to
revoke or correct a previous, incorrect Dry run: Practice
command. Commonly used off the drill
field to preface a correction. Epaulette: French, indicating a shoulder,
for it is an ornamental piece of cloth and
At ease: Another drill command that embroidery worn on the shoulder.
permits soldiers to relax in ranks and file. Originating from a need to keep a shoulder
sash or belt in position.
Accoutrements: The personal equipment
of a soldier other than arms or uniform, Fall out: A drill command which permits
normally medals and badges. soldiers to leave ranks but requires that they
remain in the immediate vicinity, pre-pared
Aiguillette: A plaited cord ending with to “fall back in.” Colloquially, the
needles, points or aglets. expression means to relax
Appointments: Apart from meaning posts Ferrule: The lower end of a sword
to which a person might be appointed, the scabbard or pace stick.
word also relates to places of distinction in
a military unit. Foxhole: A rather picturesque word, now
part of the national vocabulary. It is a small
Bandolier: From the Spanish “Banda”, a pit from which one or two men can fight
Sash) referred to the belt which held powder while having some protection from enemy
cases in the 17th Century. These small fire. A “slit trench” is a similar species of
containers (wood or leather) each contained “hasty field fortification” which differs in
enough gun-power for one loading of a that it is a “prone shelter” (the length and
musket. As 12 cases were often carried on a breadth of a man, but only about two feet
belt by means of strings, the bandolier was deep).
given the nickname of the “Twelve
Apostles” Housewife: A sewing kit. The word has
been adopted as official nomenclature
Break Short: Rest period (which “breaks”
the march, instruction, or other duty). Pike: The weapon for pikeman was
Soldiers customarily get a “ten-minute originally 16 feet long but later cut down to
break” in every hour; it is usually 14 feet to make them less cumbersome in
announced .by “Take ten.” The “coffee battle. Today, the half pike is used for our
break” has become a national jargon among Colours.
office workers.
Son of a gun: An uncomplimentary
Camouflage: French, meaning a disguise expression dating from the times when
women were allowed onboard and between
Chop-chop: Used by old China hands to decks. Reference has been made previously
mean “hurry.” In Japan it is pidgin English to the debauchery, which took place in the
for “food” or “eat.” gun-decks where the men lived.
Colour Sergeant: The rank of Colour Feather in your cap: To gain approval.
Sergeant was introduced into the British Origin - When American Indians performed
Army in 1813 when it was wished to give bravely in battle, they would receive a
feather to add to their headdress. The more
