Words from the Ocean Teacher Background
It may seem strange, but many of the words we use every day come from maritime cultures. After all, until very recently in our country's (and the world's) history, most long-distance travel took place across the seas. Many of our ancestors came to the United States on ships, and most of the first settlements they founded were ports. They depended on the ocean for food, trade, and news from their home countries. In fact, it is hard to find a city or large community in the United States that is not close to a major body of water. So, it makes sense that many words in our language reflect our ocean culture, both past and present. The ties between modern language and the sea are strong, and the origins of many words and expressions are often clear. For example, the meaning of phrases such as Don't give up the ship, Like a fish out of water, and Take the wind out of his sails seem almost obvious. Even the name of our country comes from an ocean map maker (Amerigo Vespucci), and our nation's capital, the District of Columbia, is named after the famous explorer Christopher Columbus. However, the origins of many words and phrases are not as obvious and require some understanding of life at, and close to, the sea: At the helm, Batten down the hatches, Blow over, Down the hatch, Learn the ropes, Flotsam and jetsam, Full speed ahead, Get underway, Get the drift, Keel over, Make headway, On deck, Out of Commission, and Go off the deep end. Objectives | |
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