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
The word filibuster has a long and colorful history, going back to the days when pirates roamed the high seas. Today it refers to hijacking a piece of legislation. Plus, the language of yoga teachers: When doing a guided meditation, you may hear...
Understanding the varieties of conversational styles can mean the difference between feeling you’re understood and being insulted. “High-involvement” speakers interrupt or talk along with someone else to signal their enthusiasm...