A listener shares yet another prank played on newbies: One of the first things you learn in the Coast Guard is that rope is called line, not rope — a vocabulary lesson reinforced by officers who would send new recruits down below to fetch 100 feet...
where is other.— «It was sold “as is” and “where is,” which is on a 150-acre island that has at various times belonged to the Dutch, the British, the United States Army and the Coast Guard.» —“An Island’s Fire Truck, Idle for Years, Goes Quickly on...
hose dragger n.—Gloss: a nickname for a firefighter. «Butler, a former Coast Guard captain, conceded he had limited experience as what’s known as a “hose dragger” but noted he has had years of planning and preparatory experience.» —“St. Paul / 4...
shouldering n.— «“The Coast Guard is building plans to deal with the possibility that we will see more movement around the coast as we seal the border more,” says Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. Shooting at a boat’s engines is just...

