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
Eels, orts, and Wordle! Sweden awarded its most prestigious literary award to a book about…eels. The Book of Eels reveals the mysterious life cycle of this sea creature and its significance for famous figures from Aristotle to Sigmund Freud. Plus...
Some people work hard to lose their accent in order to fit in. Others may be homesick for the voices they grew up with and try to reclaim them. How can you regain your old accent? Also, a compelling book about scientific taxonomy shows how humans...