Royal Navy Records

Post by **SarahND** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 1:18 am

StewL wrote: we used the term dhobie for general bathing, cleaning

A good example of how words change over time! The Dhobi, in India, is the person who washes your clothes. It would never be used for bathing. Dhobi wallah is a bit redundant, and I don't think it would ever be used. Wallah means someone who is occupied with whatever noun you attach it to, so another way to say Dhobi would be "clothes wallah" or "laundry wallah" or whatever. But Dhobi wallah would mean their occupation was doing something with the Dhobis... a bit odd! But when you use language, especially specialized language used by a restricted group of people, it gradually takes on new meanings and forms. And then you can hire people like me to explain it

Regards,
Sarah, the language wallah

q98 · Post by **q98** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 4:26 am

Thanks for that insight Sarah
As StewL will attest, the military have a language, slang and sense of humour (normally black humour) all their own.

StewL: never heard "deoderant was RN Dhobie" but as you say that was Royal AMATEUR Navy (woops, here we go!

). I was born and raised on the correct side of the border (Scotland). I've been an Aussie 34 years and served 20+ years in ADF.

Jim

Post by **joette** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 4:12 pm

I don't know if anybody noticed but he grew two & half inches during his service.Height was 5"O at enlistment & he was 5"2 1/2 at discharge.

StewL · Post by **StewL** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 12:53 am

Joette
I was 5ft 5 3/4 on entry, but when I left I was 5ft 7 1/2ins, and that was just on leaving recruit school

Sarah
Thanks, for your insight, but as Jim said the navy had a slang all to itself, and yes a lot of humour (Black).

Jim
I was born in the correct side of the border too,