black gang
n.— «Schutz was part of the first group of sailors, also known as “plank owners”, to board the ship on its maiden voyage in 1943. His work detail manned and operated the engine room, better known as the “black gang.”» —“World War II veteran returns to USVI for reunion” in Los Angeles, California Caribbean Net News May 8, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Aaron in Los Angeles, California, notes while using public transit in Britain he and other passengers were instructed to alight from the front, meaning “exit the car from the front.” Alight comes from an Old English word alihtan, literally, to...
When there’s no evening meal planned at home, what do you call that scramble to cobble together your own dinner? Some people apply acronyms like YOYO — “you’re on your own” — or CORN, for “Clean Out your Refrigerator...