double lines
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Ship casualties. So called at Lloyd’s from the manner of entering in books kept for the purpose.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “double lines” mean?
Ship casualties. So called at Lloyd’s from the manner of entering in books kept for the purpose.
Is “double lines” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.