Many of our Navy's colorful expressions originated as practical means of communicating vital information. One such expression is "show a leg." In the British Navy of King George III and earlier, many sailors' wives accompanied them on long voyages. This practice caused a multitude of problems but some ingenious basun solved one that tended to make reveille a hazardous event: that of distinguishing which bunks held males and which held females. To avoid dragging the wrong "mates" out of the rack, the bosun asked all to "show a leg." If the leg shown was adorned with silk, the owner was allowed to continue sleeping. If the leg was hairy and tattooed, the owner was forced to "tum-to." In today's Navy showing a leg is a signal to the reveille petty officer that you have heard his call and are awake.
« Return to Newsletter