deck swabbing
Nautical floor mopping
Deck swabbing is the task of mopping a ship's deck with a swab—a mop made of rope yarn or similar absorbent material.
The phrase evokes traditional naval maintenance work, often assigned to low-ranking sailors: The new recruits spent their first week deck swabbing.
It sometimes appears metaphorically for tedious cleaning duties or menial labor generally.
- mopFloor-washing implement
- scrub brushStiff-bristled cleaning implement
- mop bucketPail with wringer attachment
- bucketOpen-top carrying vessel
- sailorSeafaring crew member
scrubbing · seawater · naval · ship · ship shape · bristles · elbow grease · brine · nautical · stern · bow · galley · barnacles · timber · planks · bosun · rigging · slosh
naval hierarchy/status
deck swabbingcaptaining
Leading a team
admiralty · fleet command · strategic planning · navigation · shore leave
deck, decks, decked, decking, swab, swabs, swabbed, swabbing, swabber