thump mat
n.— «‘Thump mats,” as they became known, were handmade by sailors to muffle the sound of the pulleys hitting the wooden deck, for the benefit of those trying to sleep below deck.» —“Need rope? Knot a problem for Barry” by Jodie van de Wetering ABC (Wide Bay, Queensland, Australia) June 15, 2005. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
What kind of book do people ask for most often in prison? Romance novels? No. The Bible? No. The most requested books by far are … dictionaries! A number of volunteer organizations gather and distribute used dictionaries to help inmates with...
Twice a day the River Thames recedes, revealing a muddy shoreline. Hobbyists known as mudlarks stroll the surface searching for objects that have found their way into the river over the centuries, everything from ancient Roman jewelry to modern...