Under the
weather . . .
. . . is where I have been for a short, unexciting while.
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
This expression first appeared in print at the beginning of the nineteenth century and had its origin in maritime slang. Not all sailors are immune from seasickness, one most famous sufferer being Admiral Lord Nelson, who wrote, “I am ill every time it blows hard and nothing but my enthusiastic love for my profession keeps me one hour at sea."
The complete original phrase was ‘under the weather bow,’ the weather bow being the side of the ship receiving the full effects of foul weather. Seasick sailors would be sent below to ride out the storm.
It has been suggested that eighty percent of people who make their living on boats are afflicted with seasickness, though I cannot imagine such a percentage of a ship’s crew would be relieved of their duties. It seems much more likely that they would be ‘encouraged’ to continue despite their ails.
I am not sure- all of my time on boats I was told to stay on deck and look at the horizon or a fixed object somewhere in the universe. Never go below deck, the upchucks will get you!
ReplyDeleteI do hope you are feeling much improved now Janice. xx
ReplyDeleteWell this old prairie boy rarely gets a boat ride so no sea sickness here. I wish you a rapid recovery.
ReplyDeleteI hope you weren't out in a man o'war? Anyway get well soon.
ReplyDeleteMy husband served 20 years at sea. 10 years Navy and 10 years Coast Guard. He said the first time he was on a frigate and started feeling sick. He was told by his petty officer, that when it comes up, to swallow it and he'd never get seasick again. So he did - and yes it was gross but he never had sea sickness again. My son served on a huge aircraft carrier and he didn't feel a thing except during severely rough seas. He worked on the flight deck and his sleeping quarters were directly below, so all he felt was the take off and landings of the planes.
ReplyDeleteSorry you are feeling poorly. I hope you will be 100% soon. Thank you for the interesting info.
ReplyDeleteThere I was thinking after receiving the ultimate accolade of the Laughing Horse award , you decided you achieved your aim and then run away.
ReplyDeleteUnder the weather is not a phrase I've thought about but naturally it has an origin, as you discovered, with a little surprising detail about the prevalence of seasickness.
Another interesting post. My husband was in the Greek navy and the seas are sometimes horrendous. They sail in all weather. He's lucky, never felt seasick.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear you've been under the weather. I hope you are back to normal already, or very soon.
ReplyDeleteThe few boat trips I have been on in my life have all been good - no seasickness, in spite of some of them being on "rough-ish" water. But I was much younger then, and it is entirely possible that things would be different now; our bodies do change as we age, no doubt about it.
It was good to see a post from you - hope you are feeling better and fully recover very soon
ReplyDeleteI am happy to see a post from you, and sorry to read that you have been unwell. Welcome back.
ReplyDeleteI suffer from seasickness even on a calm sea. Must be something to do with my balance problems.
Hope you feel better soon.
ReplyDeleteHopefully you are on the mend now, like others I have missed your posts.
ReplyDeleteHope you're feeling better soon. And now I know where that phrase came from
ReplyDeleteI have not been under the weather, but under a mental breakdown, and headed to doctor today for pills to help. I say this to say I did not even realize you did not post, because I feel so bad my brain stopped working.
ReplyDeleteso glad you are ok and back and I had no idea what under he weather came from but have used it all my life
Since I've never been on a large ship I have no idea if I would get seasick. I certainly would think it would be extremely unpleasant as it can go on for days. However the weather is another thing, it can go on for days and it's very unpleasant.
ReplyDeleteThank you, everyone. It seems I am unable to reply individually to your comments - goodness knows why, I always have before - another little glitch, no doubt, or Blogger bloggering about.
ReplyDeleteI understood that going below when feeling ill was never a good idea, but clearly it works for many. A friend of ours suffered terribly from seasickness (on a small yacht) and would sleep below until the destination was reached, whereupon he would emerge and cook for the crew.
Many people feel seasick at the beginning of a voyage but adapt. My father (R.N,) was never seasick and my son (leisure sailor) never suffers either.
It is said that he was an admirable Admiral.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to read you have not been feeling too well.
ReplyDeleteSending my good wishes, and hoping you will be feeling lots better soon.
All the best Jan
We went on a cruise for our honeymoon. The first night out I was under the weather especially when we found out it was French cuisine night and frog legs were on the menu. There was another couple at our table. He was in the Navy. He told me to try to eat something like crackers or an apple and to keep something in your stomach. It really helped.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're feeling better
ReplyDeleteI get seasick very easily, and actually also suffer from motion sickness on land as well, like in cars and buses, on bad roads or if I can't see the road. Never associated that with "under the weather" though. If anything, I've thought of that as perhaps to do with suffering from aches and pains connected to changes in atmospheric pressure. Which I also feel from sometimes!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear you've been ill, I hope you're now well on the road to recovery. I remember one particular boat trip we took on holiday, the sea was rather choppy and I think just about every passenger was stood at the side of the boat being ill apart from my family. We must have sea legs.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDeletePlease read my post
ReplyDeleteThank you all. It seems many bloggers are affected by an inability to reply individually to comments at the moment. Bless Blogger!
ReplyDeleteI can only add my wishes that you recover swiftly.
ReplyDeleteI hope you feel better.
ReplyDeleteIt came to signify a state of physical malaise, rooted in the seafaring practice of sending unwell sailors below deck during foul conditions
ReplyDeleteI was told I didn't get seasick when we came from Germany to Australia, but I was a baby at the time so perhaps that made a difference. I have since been on a few ferries over rough waters and have not suffered then either. I did suffer carsickness as a child, though I was fine on buses and trains.
ReplyDeleteI wonder about sailors who get seasick so often, do they ever think about taking a "land" job instead?
Sorry to hear that you've been ill.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry you aren't feeling up to snuff (and now i am wondering where that expression came from!). I haven't been on a real ship, but did once ride a ferry through what they said was a nor'easter, huge waves and a steeply rolling boat. Didn't get sick, but thoroughly enjoyed the rough ride.
ReplyDeleteI tend to lose things on boats. My cookies for instance.
ReplyDeleteFortunately I've never struggled with seasickness, but then, I'm not on boats very often. Maybe I just haven't had the right voyage!
ReplyDeleteI hope you feel better soon!!x
ReplyDeleteHubby is the only one who suffers with sea sickness and a few other forms of motion sickness. Yet he is the first one to book another cruise. He manages with sea sick pills and bands. Whatever weather you have been under lately has changed and there are brighter forecasts ahead of you. Glad you are feeling better. 😊
ReplyDeleteHi Janice - so glad you're feeling better ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDelete