splice the mainbrace

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splice the mainbrace

nautical To issue and partake in an extra ration of alcoholic spirits, especially rum or grog, amongst members of crew aboard a sea vessel. The mainbrace (also spelled "main brace") is a brace attached to the main yard on sailing ships. "Splicing the mainbrace" originally referred to the very difficult job of repairing this brace, one which earned the repairman an extra ration of spirits; eventually, this euphemistic secondary meaning became the primary one. As part of the celebrations for her Diamond Jubilee, the Queen gave the order to all in the Royal Navy to splice the mainbrace as a gesture of good cheer.
See also: splice
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

splice the main brace

1 (in the Royal Navy) serve out an extra tot of rum. 2 serve out or start to consume alcoholic drinks. British informal
A sailing ship's main brace is a rope attached to its main spar. Splicing it (making a connection in it by interweaving strands) would have been a particularly onerous task, and the phrase probably arose from the custom of awarding sailors who did it an extra ration of rum.
See also: brace, main, splice
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
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References in periodicals archive ?
Splicing the mainbrace has its origins in the days of sail and refers to fixing the main brace of a sail that had broken - usually in a storm or battle.
Sailors will drink to new prince
Notes: CSWR = conversation specifications and work requirements, bean rag = pennant flag signifying crew is having a meal, splice the mainbrace means the officially-sanctioned serving of liquor onboard, unodir = unless otherwise directed, seadu = sea duty.
Dictionary of Naval Abbreviations
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I can recall a few occasions when we were invited to "splice the mainbrace", after special operations, during the King's visit to the vessel and at the end of the war in the East in August 1945.
Letter: Naval rum
Paddy enthusiastically "splices the mainbrace" with a cry of "Permission to come aboard." (If he'd pulled Viv Hope he'd have been up in the crow's nest all night).
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We beat the weather!
All welcome back afterwards to The Mainbrace Pub, Kirkby.
Deaths
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