"'...There is an art in puddings, to be sure; but what is art without suet?'
"'What indeed?' said Graham. 'But there are also puddings in art, I understand -- in the art of managing a ship. Only yesterday I learnt, to my surprise, that you tricepuddings athwart the starboardgumbrils, when sailing by and large.'
"Graham's surprise was nothing to that of the wardroom: 'By and large?' they said. 'Gumbrils? starboard gumbrils?' Jack's spotted dog hung in his gullet for a moment before he understood that someone had been practising upon the Professor's credulity, an ancient naval form of wit..." --Patrick O'Brian, The Ionian Mission, 83-84
"'Such tales have I heard of Captain Bentinck's palls, or rather shrouds, and his triangular courses, of Captain Pakenham's newly-discovered rudder, of Captain Bolton's jury-mast, of improved iron-horses, dogs, dolphins, mouses — or mice as some say — puddings...'
"'The starboard gumbrils ... by and large,' said Graham, and with a passing qualm Stephen recalled that the Professor had an unusually good memory..." --Patrick O'Brian, The Ionian Mission, 76
No! You trice puddings athwart the starboard gumbrils when sailing by and large?? Say it ain't so!
"'...There is an art in puddings, to be sure; but what is art without suet?'
"'What indeed?' said Graham. 'But there are also puddings in art, I understand -- in the art of managing a ship. Only yesterday I learnt, to my surprise, that you trice puddings athwart the starboard gumbrils, when sailing by and large.'
"Graham's surprise was nothing to that of the wardroom: 'By and large?' they said. 'Gumbrils? starboard gumbrils?' Jack's spotted dog hung in his gullet for a moment before he understood that someone had been practising upon the Professor's credulity, an ancient naval form of wit..."
--Patrick O'Brian, The Ionian Mission, 83-84
"'Such tales have I heard of Captain Bentinck's palls, or rather shrouds, and his triangular courses, of Captain Pakenham's newly-discovered rudder, of Captain Bolton's jury-mast, of improved iron-horses, dogs, dolphins, mouses — or mice as some say — puddings...'
"'Puddings, my dear sir?' cried Graham.
"'Puddings. We trice 'em athwart the starboard gumbrils, when sailing by and large.'
"'The starboard gumbrils ... by and large,' said Graham, and with a passing qualm Stephen recalled that the Professor had an unusually good memory..."
--Patrick O'Brian, The Ionian Mission, 76