Charlie Noble

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A funnel for discharging smoke from the galley.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

One of the last customs that passed from the decks of the modern navy was the “shooting of Charlie Noble.” The chimney or galley-stack of the ship's kitchen was dignified by the name of Charlie Noble, and when the galley-stack became clogged with soot the ship's cook fired a blank cartridge up it, l

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “Charlie Noble” mean?

A funnel for discharging smoke from the galley.

Is “Charlie Noble” formal or informal?

Charlie Noble is generally slang.