purser rigged and parish damned
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Having joined the United States Navy, either because of destitution or in order to flee problems on land.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
“Purser rigged and parish damned,” is the sailor saying in the American Navy, when the tyro first mounts the lined frock and blue jacket, aptly manufactured for him in a State Prison ashore.
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 “purser rigged and parish damned” mean?
Having joined the United States Navy, either because of destitution or in order to flee problems on land.
Is “purser rigged and parish damned” formal or informal?
purser rigged and parish damned is generally slang.