JoeM 7,871 #1 Posted May 6, 2021 I really did not think this was real other than just slang. I knew about fathoms but never make the connection of the two. What you learn as time go on! deep-six verb | DEEP-SIKS Definition 1 : to get rid of : discard, eliminate 2 slang : to throw overboard Before the introduction of shipboard sonar, water depth was measured by hand with a sounding line. This was generally a rope weighted at one end, with bits of leather called marks tied on at intervals to measure the fathoms. Between the marks, fathoms were estimated by deeps. The leadsman (pronounced LEDZ-mun) lowered the line into the water and called out the depth as the rope passed through his hands: "By the mark twain!" at two fathoms; "By the deep six!" at six fathoms. Perhaps due to an association with "six feet under" (dead and buried), to give something the deep six (or to deep-six it) was to throw it overboard, or, by extension, to discard it. In the mid-20th century, deep-six made landfall; since then it has been used as much by landlubbers as by old salts. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,803 #2 Posted May 6, 2021 Some day I hope to find another Wheel Horse, deep-sized by some unknowing individual. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,803 #3 Posted May 6, 2021 Apparently spell check / auto correct isn’t so keen on deep-sixed! 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,309 #4 Posted May 6, 2021 It seems that what passes for American English is being deep-sixed more and more every day by our incredibly intelligent autocorrect system. 2 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ranger 1,746 #5 Posted May 6, 2021 Hey “Man”, I never could “Fathom”out the reasons that “Lead” those “6” poor “Sikhs” called “Mark” to be tied to a “line”, and dropped overboard into the “Deep”. I can only imagine the noise “Sounding” terrible! Doug. 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevasaurus 22,711 #6 Posted May 6, 2021 When I deep-six something, it is usually to chill it...as in wine or beer. 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 9,981 #7 Posted May 6, 2021 2 hours ago, ebinmaine said: It seems that what passes for American English is being deep-sixed more and more every day by our incredibly intelligent autocorrect system. Tha shud talk proper English lic wot I do tha nose. Then thad 'ave nah trouble wi speellin'. 1 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,038 #8 Posted May 6, 2021 I can't wait to deep six a rack of ribs at the show! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
