Many organizations and subcultures have their own terminology, and the US Navy is no exception. Naval talk is replete with jargon, much of it having been developed and passed along over many generations and across centuries.
Rest assured, PAs entering the US Navy will get along without significant difficulty as many of these terms are rarely used.
On entry into the Navy, PAs typically attend "Officer Development School" where relevant terminology is studied along with other practical subjects.
Aft: Behind or rear portion of ship.
Ahoy: Synonym for hello used in hailing boats or vessels.
Aiguillette: Gold shoulder cord worn by an aide; naval aide wears gold with blue threading, military aide, gold with red threading.
Anchor (adj): Lowest, as “anchor” man, “anchor” section.
Ash can: Depth charge.
Athwartship: At right angle to fore and aft line.
Aye, Aye Sir: Reply to officer’s order - meaning “I understand and will carry out the order.”
Bail Out: Jump out in a parachute.
Barge: Power or pulling boat used by an admiral; carries stars on bow.
Batt. (n): Battalion.
Bear a hand.: Order to help or hurry.
Bearing: The direction of an object from the observer.
Belay That: As you were.
Belay: To make fast, to disregard or delay executing an order or command.
Below: Below decks.
Between the devil and the deep blue sea: Where a man found himself swinging when he tried to pay the devil.
Bilge (n): To flunk, fail.
Bilge: The bottom part of a ship or boat next to the keel.
Binnacle List: Sick list.
BISOG: Blue in Support of Green (e.g. Naval forces supporting Marine Corps forces).
Bitter-End: The end of a rope.
Bitts: Vertical pieces of metal secured to the deck of a vessel. Used to secure hawsers under heavy strain.
Black Gang: The engineering force.
Blou. (n): Blouse.
Boatswain: One who tends a large boat or vessel.
Bone (v): Study.
Bos’n’s Chair: The piece of a board on which a man working aloft is swung.
Bow: Forward end of a ship.
BPT: Be Prepared To.
Brace (n): Correct military posture.
Brackish: Moderately salty water.
Breeze, Shooting the: Swapping lies, idle talk.
Brig: Place for confinement of prisoners; Two master square-rigged vessel.
Bright Work: Brass work, polished.
BSO-18: Budget-Submitting Office 18 (refers generally to standard US Navy forces).
BSO-27: Budget-Submitting Office 27 (refers generally to standard US Marine Corps forces).
Bulkhead (n): Wall.
Bulwarks: Plating around vessel above the upper deck.
BUMED: Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.
Bust (v): To sound, as “formations ‘busted;’” also to fail.
Buzzard (n): The eagle or rating badge.
CACO: Casualty Assistance Calls Officer.
Capstan: A barrel of wood or steel fitted to revolve on a vertical axis. Used to hoist anchor or heavy weights.
Case Guns: Guns which use projectile and powder combined into a cartridge.
Caulk or Caulk Off (v): To take a nap.
Ceiling Zero: Clouds right down on the ground; no visibility.
Chains: The place or platform forward from which the lead line is heaved.
Charlie Noble: The galley smokestack.
Chinese Gangway: A boat making an approach to a ship in the wrong direction.
Chinese Landing: Nose up (minor landing accident ending upon nose and wheels.)
Chips: A carpenter's mate.
Chit: Letter, note, voucher, receipt.
Chow: Food, a meal of any sort.
Clipper: Square-rigged sailing vessel developed in the US between 1840-1860.
Coaming: The raised boundary of hatchways or doors to keep water from going below.
Compartment: Physical division of a ship.
Conning: Directing the helmsman in steering a vessel.
Coxswain: One who tends a smaller boat.
Crabtown (n): Annapolis.
Crack (v): To open, as to “Crack a port.”
Cut of his jib.: Synonym for appearance.
Cutthroat (n): One eager to oil the wheels of his own progress.
D.O. (n): Duty Officer.
Davits: Curved metal spars projecting over the ship’s side, used for hoisting boats and heavy weights.
Davy Jones’ Locker: Where things go when given the deep six, the bottom of the sea.
Dead Marine: An empty bottle.
Deadlights: Pieces of heavy glass fixed into ship’s deck or sides to admit light.
Deadweight (capacity): The difference between a vessel’s light and loaded displacement.
Deck (n): Floor.
Deck ape: A deck hand.
Devil to Pay: Originally referred to the very difficult job of applying hot pitch to the devil or the seam immediately above the water line.
DHA: Defense Health Agency.
Dog Watch: One of the two hour watches from 1600 to 2000. (1600-1800 - 1st dog watch) (1800-2000 - 2nd dog watch)
Dope (n): The inside secret of anything; one unsatisfactory in common sense; (v) dope off, forget.
Dropped in: Excessively hard landing.
Dungarees: Working clothes (blue overall type material).
Ear Banger: An "apple polisher."
Epaulletes: Shoulder ornaments for dress uniforms which look like hair brushes and are known as swabs.
Exec.: Executive Officer.
Eyes in the Boat: Admonition to keep head and eyes front.
Eyes of the Ship: The extreme forward portion of the ship.
Fantail: After part of ship overhanging rudder and propeller.
Fantail: The rear part of a ship which overhangs the rudder and the propeller.
Field Day: Day for cleaning up all parts of ship.
First Luff: First Lieutenant.
Fish: Torpedo.
Flag Officer: Rear Admiral or above (officer personal flag).
Flotsam: Floating wreckage.
Fore: Front of ship.
Foul anchor: Device anchor worn on officer's cap. Personal badge of a British Lord High Admiral which was adopted by the British Navy.
Fourth Class Liberty: Restriction to a ship in port.
Freeboard: That portion of (not superstructure) side of vessel above water line.
Frigate: Two-decked, three masted square-rigged warship, duties similar to those of modern destroyers and cruisers.
Galley: The cooking compartment aboard ship.
Gangway: Passage, aisle, or hall aboard ship.
Gig: Power or pulling boat used by a captain; long gold arrow along gunnel.
Give it the Gun: Open the throttle.
Give the Deep Six: To throw overboard.
Gouge (n): Solution to problem, key to exam; (v) to cheat.
Grease (n): Pull or influence.
Grease Mark (n): Aptitude for service mark.
Greasy (a): Over regulation.
Gripe (n) or (v): Expression of disapproval.
Gross Tonnage: The measure of the cubical contents of a vessel below decks.
Gundeck (v): To put on, feign intoxication.
Gunnel or Gunwale: Upper edge of the side of an open boat.
Gyp joint: Ship's service store.
Handsomely (adv): Slowly or carefully.
Hatchway: The opening in a deck forming a passageway from one deck to another.
Hawse Pipes: Pipes in the bow for the anchor cable.
Head: Toilet.
Holy Joe (n): The Chaplain.
Holystones: Brick-like blocks used for scrubbing wooden decks; use of a sandstone from an abandoned church led to name. Holystones are also called God Rocks.
Idlers: Men on shipboard not subject to regular night watch, i.e. sick bay attendants, yeoman, cooks, etc.
Irish Pennants: Rope yarns or loose ends hanging (very unseamanlike).
Iron cow: A machine for mixing powdered milk.
Jack of the dust: Commissary steward's helper.
Jacob’s Ladder: A ladder of rope with wooden steps for use over the side.
Jamoke, Java, Joe (n): Coffee.
Jimmy Legs (n): Yard police, master-at-arms.
Joe pot: Coffee pot; coffee is referred to as Joe or mud.
Keel: Lowest center line longitudinal member, the backbone of the ship.
Knock Off (v): To stop whatever you are doing.
Ladder (n): Stairway.
Landfall: Sighting land.
Leave: Authorized absence from duty for more than 48 hours.
Lee Shore: A shore onto which the wind is blowing.
Lee Side: Side away from the wind.
Lend a hand: Request for assistance.
Liberty: Authorized absence from duty for 48 hours or less.
Line: Rope.
Look Alive: Admonition to be alert.
Lucky Bag: A safe place where articles of clothing and other articles found adrift are placed for safekeeping. Those claiming articles in “Lucky Bag” are subject to demerits.
Make Water: To leak.
MANMED: Manual of the Medical Department.
MARFORRES: Marine Forces Reserve.
MARSOC: US Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command.
Master-at-arms: Not a rating; title given petty officer with police duties.
Midships: Middle section of ship.
MOU: Memorandum of Understanding.
Mud hook: Anchor.
Mustang (n): A Commissioned officer who has risen from the ranks.
Muster: Roll call or assembly.
Nav. (n): Navigation.
Non-Reg (a): Non Regulation.
NTE: Not to Exceed.
NSW: Naval Special Warfare.
Number Jumper (n): Same as cutthroat.
OCNR: Office of the Chief of Naval Reserves.
On the Beam: Right on the course as determined by “radio course signal” when flying by instrument.
OPNAV: Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.
OSC: Office of Special Counsel.
Overhead: Ceiling.
P-Poor (n): Pretty poor - an expression of scorn.
P-rade (n): Parade.
P-Work (n): Practical work, quiz.
Pass the Word: Give information.
Passageway: Hallway.
Pipe Down (n): Warning to keep quiet.
Pipe Down: Keep quiet.
Plank owner: One who has been aboard a ship for a longtime.
Port (n): Window.
Port: Left side of ship looking forward.
Ports: Openings in the ship’s side for various purposes - light - air - guns, etc.
Prop (n): Propeller.
R.H.I.P.: Rank hath its privileges.
Rate (n): A privilege by virtue of rank; to give an opinion of.
Ratey (a): Applies to those who take advantage of the rates of others.
Ring it out: Stunt violently.
Rope Yarn Sunday: The afternoon of regular working day when men are given time off. The name comes from the use of this time for darning socks and sewing on buttons.
S.R.B.P.: Short Range Battle Practice.
Sack (n): Official responsibility.
Savior (n): One who is intellectually brilliant.
Scullery: Dish washing. One who is assigned this duty is called a "Will O' the Wisp."
Scuppers: Holes in the side of the ship through which water is discharged from the waterways.
Scuttlebutt (n): A drinking fountain; rumors, usually unfounded.
Secure (v): To stop work (knock off) or make fast.
Shack: A room. Radio room is referred to as the radio shack.
Sheet in the wind.: Drunk.
Shoot Charlie Noble: Clean the galley smokestack.
Shove Off (v): Leave, depart.
Sick Bay: The place where the sick call is held. Sick call is for treatment of minor ailments and inspection of those likely to be hospital cases.
Skivvy (n): Underclothes.
Slipped his cable: Died.
Smoke stacking: Sometimes called gun decking; means to feign intoxication.
Smoking Lamp: When smoking lamp is lighted, smoking is permitted; when smoking lamp is out, smoking is not permitted.
Snipe: A fireman.
Soup (n): Fog.
Sparks: An electrician's mate or radioman.
Speed Cone: A canvas cone painted yellow; to indicate to other vessels in formation the actual speed that a ship’s engines are making.
Splice the main brace: Originally meant what it said; since it was hard to do, it rated an extra ration of rum.
Stanchions: Vertical pillars supporting a beam or some other portion of a ship.
Stand By: A preparatory order.
Starboard: Right side of ship looking forward.
Stem: The vertical extension of the keep forward.
Stern: After part of vessel.
Sternpost: The vertical extension of the keel aft.
Subcaliber Gun: A small gun mounted on the side or in the bore of a larger gun for use in drill.
Sun over the yardarm: High noon; phrase used to indicate appropriate time for days' first drink.
Sundowner or Martinet: Strict disciplinarian.
Swab: Mop. Swabbing may be the act of mopping. Sometimes the order to mop the deck is given as “Clamp down the deck.”
Swabo (n): Zero.
Taffrail: Rail around the vessel’s stern.
Take to the Silk,
Tea Fight: Afternoon tea.
TFD: Total Force Development.
Three sheets in the wind.: Very drunk.
Topside: Above decks.
Trou (n): Trousers.
Truck: A cap or metal fitting at the summit of a flag staff or masthead.
Turn To: To begin work.
Two Block: To hoist until all the way up.
Up the pole: On the water wagon.
Wash out Landing Gear: Wreck or demolish landing gear.
Weigh: Lift from the bottom.
Wind It Up: Start the engine.
WRT: With Regard To.
Yehudi Box: Automatic pilot.
Sources:
Naval History and Heritage Command
MilitaryWives.com
Wiktionary