A1. An expression meaning first-
rate. In Lloyd's Register of Shipping,
letters denote the quality of the ship's
hull, and fittings are denoted by fig-
ures. Thus A1 means hull first-rate,
and also all fittings, such as anchors,
cables and stores. A2 signifies hull
first-rate but the fittings only second-
rate.

Aaron's Serpent. A force so pow-
erful as to eliminate all minor powers.
The allusion is to Exodus vii, 10 - 12.

A.B. Short for able seaman, or
able-bodied seaman. A skilled sailor.
A ship's crew is divided into three
classes: (1) Skilled seaman, called an
A.B; (2) Ordinary seaman; and (3)
Boys, a term which covers not only
youths but green-horns, or inexperi-
enced men of any age or size.

Aberdeen cutlet. An R.A.F. term
since 1936 for an aeroplane crash, or a
heavy fall. Also referred to as a "belly
landing."

Above board. The term originated
in racing circles, where one of the
course attractions was, at one time,
spinning wheels. They were in the
form of stands, covered down to the
ground with gaily-coloured flouncings.
The owners of the tables unsuspect-
ingly regulated the issue of the spin-
ning wheel on the board by working
a hidden treadle. Thus, anything un-
derhand came to be called "not above
board." For obvious reasons "under-
hand work" is associated, also, with
this origin.

Absence makes the heart grow
fonder. While opinions may differ as
to the truth of the adage, there can be
no doubt of its being one of the most
used of cliches. It comes from the
song, "Isle of Beauty," by Thomas Haynes Bayly
( 1797-1839).

Absquatulate. To run away, to
leave, to abscond. An American word
from the gold-diggings. The reverse to
"squat," as when a "squatter" quitted
after staking a claim which proved to
be without gold.

Academy. The name comes from a
garden founded in a suburb of Athens
by Academus. It was at one time a
pleasure resort, consecrated to the
Goddess Athene. In its grove Plato
held his morning philosophical con-
ferences, hence its application to learn-
ing. Plato's academy was divided into
the Old, wherein was taught his own
philosophic doctrine, and that of
Xenocrates, Crates, and his followers;
the Middle, a modified Platonism
founded by Arcesilaus; and the New,
of Carneades.

English ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS
was founded by George III in 1768 for
the establishment of an art school and
the holding of annual exhibitions of
works by living artists.

According to Cocker. Meaning
strictly correct. The word comes from
Edward Cocker ( 1631-75), who pub-
lished a popular arithmetic. It ran
into sixty editions, and was accounted
the acme of correctness. The phrase
was first used, and popularized, in a
farce, "The Apprentice," by Murphy,
produced in London in 1756.

According to Gunter. The Amer-
ican equivalent to "Cocker." Edmund
Gunter, celebrated mathematician, in-

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