Etymologies
- From the naval military practice of displaying one's colours (signal flags or insignia) from the mast of a ship during battle to show loyalty. (Wiktionary)
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Three Sheets to the Wind
Common words or phrases of nautical origin that have taken on different or metaphorical meanings. Chained_bear and I tossed a coin over who would make the list. I won (or lost, depending on how you...
scuttlebutt, taken aback, brass monkey, boot camp, clean bill of health, three sheets to t..., the devil to pay, between the devil..., by and large, the whole nine yards, mind your ps and qs, slush fund and 116 more...
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reesetee To display one's opinions and beliefs; also, to show the intention of holding onto those beliefs until the end. The phrase originated with the practice, during nautical battles, to lower the ship's colors as a sign of submission. To nail the colors to the mast meant that you had no intention of submitting.
Technically, since the phrase originated in England, it's correct to use the British spelling of "colours." :-) Mar 12, 2008