through the hawsehole

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

Meaning · English

Of an officer: having risen from the grade of an ordinary seaman, whose original position in the vessel was forward, before the mast.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English
Sources & notes

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

Common questions

What does “through the hawsehole” mean?

Of an officer: having risen from the grade of an ordinary seaman, whose original position in the vessel was forward, before the mast.

Is “through the hawsehole” formal or informal?

through the hawsehole is generally slang.