The depth told you if you were safe. The seabed told you where you were.



By the 1570s, the phrase had come ashore. Surgeons still call their probe a “sound”.

In maritime recruitment… Interviews work the same way. The answer tells you the depth. What sticks to it tells you the rest.

🫡 Angle Recruitment… We check the depth before you commit.

Fun Facts

💡 Samuel Clemens took the name Mark Twain in 1863, after his years as a Mississippi river pilot, where “mark twain” meant two fathoms of safe water under the hull.

💡 Pressing tallow into the base of the lead was called “arming” it. A good pilot could tell where he was from the sand, shell or mud that came back up.

💡 To “sound” the depth has nothing to do with noise. It comes from the Old French sonder, to probe, and surgeons still use the word today.

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.