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Log Book: Today any bound record kept on a daily basis aboard ship is called a "log." Originally, records were kept on the sailing ships by inscribing information onto shingles cut from logs and hinged so they opened like books. When paper became more readily available, "log books" were manufactured from paper and bound. Shingles were relegated to naval museums -- but the slang term stuck.
Crows Nest: The crow (the bird, not the rating badge) was an essential part of the early sailors' navigation equipment. These land-lubbing fowl were carried on board to help the navigator determine where the closest land lay when the weather prevented sighting the shore visually. In cases of poor visibility, a crow was released and the navigator plotted a course that corresponded with the bird's because it invariably headed toward land.
The crow's nest was situated high in the main mast where the look-out stood his watch. Often, he shared this lofty perch with a crow or two since the crows' cages were kept there: hence the "crow's nest."
Bilge: The word bilge has a rich history that dates back to Old English. Originally, it was used to describe the lowest part of a ship's hull, where water would collect. Later on, it came to be associated with the foul-smelling water that accumulated in that area.
Interestingly, the word bilge also has connections to the world of brewing. In the 16th century, bilge was used to describe the dregs or sediment that settled at the bottom of a barrel of beer.
Over time, bilge took on additional meanings, including nonsense or rubbish talk, and even the lower part of a person's body. Today, the word is most commonly associated with the nautical world and is used to describe the lowest part of a ship's interior.
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