If a tippler has one too many, he’s said to be “three sheets to the wind.” But why three? And why, of all things, sheets? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Three Sheets to the Wind” Martha, we’ve...
plankowner n.— «All three were members of the commissioning crew—“plankowners,” in Navy parlance—who worked together on the ship’s surface-to-air missile systems.» —“Former crew members take part in Kitty Hawk’s final...
weeping tile n.— «Key components to this portion of the project, besides the 6 x 6 lumber, are a perforated four-inch drain pipe (also referred to as weeping tile), course gravel, 10-inch galvanized spikes, a 1/4 inch ship auger and a...
Q-tip cruise n.—Gloss: a pleasure trip aboard a trip, taken mainly by senior citizens. Note: So named because they have white hair and resemble the white cotton ends of Q-tips. «It was in mid-September 2006, the final cruise of the season...
kit-bashing n.— «The term for buying a kit and replacing its materials is “kit-bashing.” Kerr said Dellaquila isn’t the only kit-basher in the society; that is, members who order a kit and then throw away much of the materials...
T-patcher n.— «With lethal German 88mm artillery shells raining down, Panzer tanks attacked the 36th’s flanks. The T-patchers, as they were called (their insignia was a “T” on an arrowhead patch), literally engaged in “hand-to-tank”...

