Antarctic Slang
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U W
Glossary of sensible Antarctic words
A – H I – Z
Like any other close-knit or isolated group Antarctic communities
develop their own sub culture with their own slang words and phrases. This list
is far from exhaustive, inclusion here is my purely subjective view as to whether
the word or phrase is worthy of note, because of how frequently it is used or
as to how amusing I find it.Where possible nationality is attributed to the word
(Am – American, Aus – Australian, Br – British, NZ – New Zealand).
This page is shamelessly stolen from “Daniel the Whaler” – please see his page for more detail.
Antarctic Dictionary:
A Complete Guide to Antarctic English (Hardcover)
A – factor – The Antarctic factor, unexpected extra
difficulties presented by Antarctica. AusAirdrop – Cargo and personal
items dropped from an airplane, a huge morale booster for winterovers. AmAntarctic 10 – A person of the opposite
sex who might be considered a “5” elsewhere. Am
Bagdrag – McMurdo base
– US, dragging your bag – luggage – to weigh in for for a
flight out. Due to weather conditions a bagdrag is not always followed by a
flight and in any case will rarely take place at a convenient time for the dragger
of the bag. AmBanana Belt – The South Orkney Islands
and South Georgia where there have been British bases for many years. As these
bases are in the maritime Antarctic and not very far South by comparison to
some others, they are referred to by inhabitants of other stations as being
in the “Banana Belt” – still very chilly and windy though. BrBeaker – A scientist, if said scientist
is unwanted or unpopular, the term jafa, may be used – Just Another
F….. Academic; Am, Aus, Br, NZBig eye – Insomnia caused by changes in the length
of daylight.Bog chisel – An implement with a wooden handle like
a broom handle about 6 foot long and with a metal chisel-shaped blade about
2 inches wide at the end of it – blunt by usual chisel standards. Used as a
snow and ice probe to test sea-ice – more than three thwacks to get through
and it’s safe to walk on, less than three and it’s time to walk back where you
came from – very carefully. Also used as a crevasse probe. BrBolo – Burnt-out-left-over an expeditioner who has
been in the Antarctic for too long. Aus.Boomerang –
A flight to Antarctica that turns back before it
gets there, usually due to poor weather conditions at the landing site. Am.Boot – to be ‘boot’ is to have a monk-on
(being in a bad, usually introspective mood).
BrBunny boots –
Boots for extremely cold weather, large, white and
plain, but effective, the name comes from a layer of rabbit fur that’s supposed
to be part of the insulation (actually wool felt). Am
ChCh –
(pronounced Cheech), slang for Christchurch, New
Zealand, a stopping off and kitting up point for US Antarctic programme personnel
en route for Antarctica. AmChinese Landing – A phonetic pun, based on the
unusual aircraft angle when landing in stiff Antarctic cross winds: one wing
low. AmChing – (Adj) Chinged (Vb) a Dear John
letter from the girlfriend. BrChing Club – a special club for those who
have been chinged. BrCity Mice – Support personnel whose duties force
them to remain at McMurdo Station. AmCountry Mice – Scientists and their assistants
who get to travel to camps around Antarctica. AmCrawlies – Blowing snow at ground level that snakes
along being very atmospheric. Snow blows around in Antarctica far more than
it falls from the sky, the low temperatures means that it stays powdery and
loose and ever present winds move it back and forwards a lot.Crud, the –
Common name for colds / flu contracted by new arrivals
to the US McMurdo base. Most common with a large entry of new people bringing
a large influx of fresh germs. Any germ-related illnesses in Antarctica are
rare in the winter as the base personnel have either had the illnesses by then
or are immune to them. The longest continuous period of my life free of colds
and flu was when I was in Antarctica. Am.
Dear John – A letter from a girlfriend left behind
informing the recipient he is now (at his choice) not only thousands of miles
and many months away, but also surplus to emotional requirements. BrDegomble – Being outside in Antarctica
in wind-driven snow makes a lot of the snow stick to your clothes and in nooks
and crannies around back-pack etc. De-gombling is the process of removing this
loosely attached snow before going indoors into a hut, base-building or tent
where it would melt and make life more unpleasant.Originated (I think – clarification would be
appreciated) with dogs in the days when they were
used to pull sledges, in certain conditions, snow could form into balls (gombles) that
hung from the dogs fur, making them heavy and uncomfortable. Br.Dingle – Good weather, on a dingle day
it’s time to get your boots on and go out to play – or excellent visibility.
Br.Dome – An aluminium Geodesic
dome, 50 meters (165 ft) in diameter at the base and approximately 17 meters
high (55 ft) at the top at the American Scott-Amundsen base at the South Pole.
Looks a bit like an ice-age EPCOT. The South Pole base was established in the 1950’s and
was seen as a great status symbol location for a base. That being the cold
war, the Russians then followed it up by establishing their status symbol base
at the pole of inaccessibility – the point on Antarctica the furthest from any
ocean – the Vostok base. AmDome Slugs – Those who live and
work in the central Dome at the south polar station. AmDonga – Sleeping area. Aus
Doo – Short for skidoo, small robust and very effective
small-scale transport over snow and ice, like a motor-bike on skis. Can be used
to transport driver and one other sitting down or much bigger loads towed along
behind on a sledge. Br.
ECW –
Extreme Cold Weather. A label
applied to protective clothing issued to American base members, includes parkas,
bunny boots, bear claws (large mittens), balaclavas etc. Am
FIDS – “Falklands Islands Dependencies Survey” was
the original name for the “British Antarctic Survey” (BAS). Members of FIDS
referred to themselves as Fids and the name stuck. It is usually taken
as meaning someone who has travelled to Antarctica and worked on a FIDS or BAS
ship or base. Some purists maintain that it should only apply to those who have
wintered on such a base. Br.Fidlet – A FID in his or her first year, sometimes
considered as someone in their first summer south preceding the first winter
after which they will be a Fid proper. Br.Fidgob – Any job that is “gobbed” together using materials
available at the time by a Fid. Not usually a very elegant solution due the
improper materials and / or tools and / or inexpertise of the Fid concerned.
Antarctica does, has always and probably always will, run on the equivalent
of Fidgob solutions to broken or missing apparatus and machinery. Br.Field, The – Anywhere not on a base. Scientists
in particular like to talk about being “out in the field” – it makes them sound
more rugged and heroic.First Call – The first
visit of the season to a base by a ship. An eagerly awaited event by winterers
as it brings mail, fresh food, new people, cargo, shopping they’ve ordered and
almost a new way of life as the summer now starts. BrFingy –
The pronunciation of F.N.G.. A derogatory
term of uncertain origin for the F… New Guy (or Girl). Originally used in
Vietnam to describe a solider on their first tour of duty. Am, Aus, Br, NZFive hundred club – Those who have been
in Antarctica for more than 500 successive days. Ausfreshies –
Fresh fruit and vegetables brought in by air or
ship. Food is a perennial topic of conversation at all Antarctic bases, most
of the year the food has been preserved in some way. The arrival of fresh produce
is an event of great importance especially at the end of the winter when exotic
delights like boiled potatoes and carrots taste like you’d never believe that
they could. Am.
Gash – A Naval term that has two
meanings, firstly it means rubbish / garbage anything to be disposed of and
secondly it describes a task or event. Many bases have a gash-rota whereby
each member in turn is gashman for the day. This means that they help in the
kitchen with menial tasks, wash-up, deal with the gash – rubbish/garbage and
generally carry out various base house-keeping duties (similar to Aus. “slushy”). Br.Gomble – An accretion of snow on hair. This is usually facial hair
or the hair on a dog in the days when they were
used to pull sledges. In certain conditions, snow could form into balls (gombles) that
hung from the hair or dogs fur, making them heavy and uncomfortable. (see
degomble) Br.greenout – The emotion felt on seeing and smelling
green things (plants) again after an extended period on the ice.grips – Photographs, “getting the grips in” is an Antarctic
occupation that can be taken to extremes. Particular incidents and occurrences
can only be legitimately claimed to have happened once the grips had been got
in. Br.
This has now progressed to videoing everything, I have been recently
pleasantly surprised to come across
this,
part of a great and noble tradition.Grumble Bucket – Coffee/tea cup. Br
helo –
Helicopter.
Herbie –
The name given to particularly powerful and dangerous
storms that affect the US McMurdo base coming from the South, through “Herbie
Alley”, winds can be in excess of 100 knots. AmHollywood Shower – A naval term, derisively
used to describe showers of longer than the allotted two minutes (fresh water
in a liquid form is relatively rare in Antarctica) Am.House Mice – Personnel on periodic janitorial
duty. Am
Ice, The –
A common nickname for Antarctica. Being in Antarctica
is referred to as being “On The Ice”. Am.
Jolly – A pleasure trip, can be used derisively
“jolly merchant” for someone who always manages to get to go on the interesting
trips (despite the title I never came across one who would sell places on jollies).
Summer only personnel may sometimes be referred to by winterers as “on a summer
jolly” Br.
Klatch – Personal belongings Br.
Last Call – The last visit of the season
to a base by a ship. The departure of last call takes with it people who have
been in Antarctica for up to 30 months and heralds the start of winter with
no physical contact with the outside world for up to 11 months depending on
where the base is. BrLurker – That unknown something found at the bottom of
an un-washed grumble bucket (coffee/tea cup). BrLurky – Something a bit dodgy, I always imagined it as
being something that was lurking about and probably up to no good – “That’s
a lurky looking bergy bit offshore by the mooring”. Br
Manhaul – A sledging trip where the sledge is pulled
by men rather than vehicles. Br, Aus.Mactown –
A nickname for the US base at McMurdo. Others are
McMudhole and Dirt Town because of the gritty volcanic soil there that is exposed
in the summer.Mank, manky – Overcast weather, particularly
common in the maritime Antarctic Br.Mainbody –
One of the three seasons of the American Antarctic
year. At McMurdo for instance, it lasts from approx. 1st of October until the
last flight at Station Close, around late February or early March. Seasonality
in Antarctica is timed by events as much as the calendar and seasons are not
reckoned to be over or begun until events such as the first or last ship or
flight of a particular season has happened. Am.Medevac –
A contraction of “medical evacuation” – a special
flight out for someone before their tour is over as a result of illness or injury.
Am, Aus, Br, NZMonk-on – A term for being in a bad, usually
introspective mood, “he’s got a monk-on”. BrMukluks – Inuit style cold weather boots.
Soft outer, pale cream in colour with a very thick sole and a wool felt liner,
very effective as long as you don’t try to do any climbing or walking over uneven
surfaces in them. Am, Aus, BrMunch – Dried meat granules a common part
of the winter diet in the absence of fresh meat, also used by field parties
as water can be added by melting snow or ice. Br.Mutt – American sheathbill, a small Antarctic
bird the size of a larger but rounder pigeon with disgusting table manners and
thought by some to have been overlooked by evolution. Evidence of the first
point is that in the days when waste matter was flushed into the sea, some thought
that Mutts could hear the sound of the flush and take position at the kaka-pipe
(it wasn’t really called the kaka-pipe). Evidence of the second is that in winter
some would come into land on a slatted jetty and only put down one leg to save
heat loss, the result is that the one leg would go between the gaps in the slats.
Br
Nutty – The general term for any type
of chocolate or sweets / candy, whether it contains nuts or not. A personal
note here, when I first arrived in Antarctica I was most unimpressed with the
unhealthiness of the food that people took out with them when leaving base for
a day trip – one to three bars of chocolate and nothing else. Being of sterner
stuff I promptly made myself some healthy sandwiches (tuna if I remember rightly)
– I was observed with interest but without comment by other (as it turned out
– wiser) people around. Come lunch break, while others tucked into their hard
but edible “nutty” I sat and sucked on a frozen sandwich. BrNutty (alt -probably original) – The dog food which we carried and
used in the field came in compressed blocks of meat and fat weighing about
1lb per block (I think) and in boxes weighing 70 lbs each which would last
one team (9 dogs) for 5 days. It’s trade name was Nutrican which was
abbreviated to Nutty by the dog drivers. (Thanks to Drummy Small for this –
more.) Br
OAE –
Old Antarctic Explorer. Someone
who’s been around in Antarctica for a while, several summers, or at least a
Winter, the more the better of course. Wintering at the south polar station
confers OAE status. AmOffensive potatoes – tinned potatoes
Oggin – The sea. Br.
PAX –
Passengers. Am
Pit / pitroom – Bed / bedroom. Br.
Poppy – Alcoholic beverage that is chilled with natural Antarctic
ice. Hundreds of thousands of years of pressure captured bubbles of environmental
gas that, when warmed with Glenfiddich (or any other less qualified inebriant
of choice), pop in your face. Due to the extremely low humidity of the region,
hangovers induced from poppys were particularly onerous and it wasn’t uncommon
for someone to say, “Had too many poppys last night.” Trust me, it had nothing
to do with genealogy or flowers. AmPSR –
Point of Safe Return. Applied
to aircraft flying to Antarctica, the furthest the plane can go and still return
to its origin. Some aircraft that fly to the American McMurdo base can fly all
the way and then back to the take off point in Christchurch New Zealand without
landing. In this case the PSR is actually McMurdo itself and on occasion due
to extreme weather conditions, planes have flown all the way there and then
gone back again without landing. Am.
Race around the World – A popular race around the south
pole marker on Dec. 25th. Am
Sawdust – dehydrated cabbage Br
Scradge – Food, Br.
Scrubout – A weekly occurrence on some bases where
at a regular time (after dinner on a Friday is popular) everyone sets to to
clean the base up being allotted a different place to clean by weekly rota.
Br.Skua – to appropriate goods by means that are not quite
stealing, but also not quite not-stealing. Named after Antarctic Skuas that hang
out near the Galley in McMurdo. – Am – (thanks to “Icegirl” for posting
this on the guest map ;o))Slack – Something badly done, often applied to gash
– “slack gash” is a withering admonishment and difficult to live down. BrSlot – crevasse. Where a glacier goes over a bump in
the underlying bedrock, it cracks from the top (widest point) pretty much all
the way to the bottom, this is a crevasse.Slotted –
Something that happens if you fall into a crevasse,
an almost ubiquitous hazard in Antarctica as the wind-blown snow often covers
up these tapering cracks in the ice with a snow bridge that can easily be 50ft+
(over 16m) wide. The weakest part of the snow bridge is going to be the middle of
course. Falling into a crevasse without a rope to stop you has to be one of
the most unpleasant ways to go. There’s a deep enough fall for you to pick up
a fair speed before you get wedged into the narrowing space at the bottom (known
as “corking in”). Assuming you don’t crack your head on the way down and are
still alive, you will become aware of being held by your pelvis or ribcage that
may well have been broken in the process. You now have to get out while firmly
wedged and in some considerable pain. If not roped up you will be dependent
on whoever is on the surface, so hope they’ve a long enough rope. To make matters
worse it will probably be pitch black or at least very dim and if it’s summer
there’s a possibility that the bottom of the crevasse may even contain very
cold meltwater. I worried a lot about falling in crevasses. Am, Aus, Br,
NZVehicles can also be slotted.
Slushy – A sort of kitchen helper/hand
for the day performed by base members on a “slushy rota” (similar to Br.
“gash rota” and gashman). AusSmoko – Coffee or tea break, a Naval term.
Smoko is a bit more of an event than just stopping work for a break, the whole
base pretty much would go to the dining room and drink / chat / eat and
smoke too in the days when it was almost compulsory. Br.Snotsicle – An icicle of frozen mucous
hanging from the nose of the owner, once they start to form, they cause the
nose to run so speeding up the growth. Aus.South – Antarctica. Usually referred to
in the form “going south”, “been south”, “went south” etc. BrSplode – anything that you can’t remember the name for:
pass the splode will you? – There’s a skua sitting on the splode! – Anyone
seen my splode? BrSpringer – A summer worker who arrives before the main hoards.
Br
Three-hundred-club – To belong,
you need to go through 300 degrees Fahrenheit, this is achieved by rolling naked
outside in a chilly Antarctic temperature and then going inside to hit the sauna.
AmThrutch – difficulty, usually applied to progress through
deep or poor snow conditions. “the last bit was a real thrutch”. BrTransantarctics –
The Transantarctic mountain range that stretches
across the middle of the continent, from the Weddell Sea to the Ross Sea.
Am
U-barrel –
A 55 gallon drum used for the collection of urine
in places that lack plumbing. U-Barrels are painted bright yellow. Used as the
basis of a toilet of various degrees of primitiveness. Most countries remove
all their waste from Antarctica these days so as not to degrade the environment.
As 55 gallon barrels are used to bring in all kinds of fuels, they are an ideal
way of taking all the waste out again and find use for all manner of purposes
as well as for the traditional one of cutting them in half and making a barbecue.
Am.
Weather Guesser
– A meteorologist. AmWindy / windies
– Name for the ventile windproof jacket and over trousers issued to members
of the British Antarctic Survey. Apparently old fashioned and low tech, but
remarkably practical and much loved by generations of Fids. Br.Winterovers – Any one who stays on an
Antarctic base for the whole of the winter. Am.
Antarctic Dictionary:
A Complete Guide to Antarctic English (Hardcover)