Bosun's Call

Jackspeak - A guide to Royal Navy and Royal Marines Slanguage.

Bosun's Call - Whistle.

This originally came with a heavy brass chain.

The Boatswain, or more commonly Bosun's call. A device redolent of ancient times when visiting dignitaries were piped over the side on arrival or departure. The loud rising and lowering notes indicated the lowering or raising required by the Bosun's chair that carried visitors onboard. The custom of piping visitors aboard continues to this day. The use of the call is very simple but requires practice. Here the youngest Bosun I've ever met has great fun with Grandpa's call. I haven't shown him my cat o' nine tails yet. :-)

Here's a link to the call for manning the side.

Piping the side.