Chunder 🤢
I was nineteen, in my
trackie dacks, sitting in the officers’ bar at 2am when everyone’s beer suddenly started sliding towards me.
Half cut in forty-foot waves, and it’s going off like a
frog in a sock.
Carnage – the kind only the sea can deliver.
The
sanga I’d eaten earlier made a surprise reappearance… and tried to change ownership mid-voyage.
An Aussie classic:
Chunder.
And that story’s
fair dinkum…
But where did it come from?
It all began with sea-sick sailors leaning over the side of ships during long voyages.
To avoid splattering the poor soul below, they’d shout:
“Watch under!”
A warning that, thanks to big swells and bad accents 😜, eventually slurred into…
“Chunder!”
Fast forward a century, and it’s now a beloved part of
Straya slang – describing the not-so-glamorous moment when your lunch stages a comeback.
I do love how Singaporeans refer to the iconic Merlion statue in the same light 🤣.
The Maritime Origins Series
Maritime Origins is a storytelling series created by Jason Nangle, Founder of Angle Recruitment, a global maritime recruitment and executive search firm.
The series explores the fascinating history behind everyday phrases that originated at sea, as well as the remarkable stories, traditions and characters that have shaped maritime culture.
Many sayings still used today were first spoken by sailors navigating the challenges of life on board ships. Alongside these phrase origins, the series also highlights lesser-known maritime stories, legends and historical moments from the world of shipping.
Through short stories and visual posts, Maritime Origins connects the language, heritage and traditions of seafarers with the modern maritime industry.
New posts in the series launch every Tuesday on LinkedIn and are then shared across other platforms including Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and X. Follow
Jason Nangle on LinkedIn and Angle Recruitment across your preferred social platforms.
A stray cat wandered onto a warship in Hong Kong. Weeks later, Simon was a war hero.
Spanish naval origins… meaning “go to hell” or “get lost.” Still commonly heard across Latin countries today.
For centuries, seafarers prayed to Saint Nicholas. Few realise he was the patron saint of sailors. 😇
