From the March 31, 2013 Goldsboro (NC) News-Argus "Language Matters: Hoisting treasures from the sea" by Liz Meador.
A review of Olivia A. Isil's book "When a Loose Cannon Flogs a Dead Horse There's the Devil to Pay."
I found some of the excerpts of the book of interest:
A1 refers to a rating that was given by Lloyd's of London assigned to merchant ships in good shape. Known as highest quality. Of course, today, we know it as a steak sauce, but we all know that something A1 is good.
ALOOF-- comes from the Dutch word "loef" meaning windward. A ship that stays windward of other ships sails alone or in the distance.
BALLAST is Old Teutonic language and means "belly load." In nautical terms, it refers to cargo carried deep in the hold of a ship to increase stability and trim in the water.
BLACK BOOK refers to the the set of maritime traditions, rules and laws of the British Admiralty that were bound in a black leather book. (Nothing about a guy's little black book or is that little red book?)
Shiver Me Timbers!! (Bet That Has to Do With a Storm Hitting a Ship.) --Cooter
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