or dead marine, subs. (common).—1. See quot. 1864; a CAMP-CANDLESTICK (q.v.). Also (GROSE) MARINE OFFICER.
1884. MARK LEMON, The Jest Book, p. 161. William IV. seemed in a momentary dilemma one day, when, at table with several officers, he ordered one of the waiters to ‘take away that MARINE there,’ pointing to an empty bottle. ‘Your majesty!’ inquired a colonel of marines, ‘do you compare an empty bottle to a member of our branch of the service?’ ‘Yes,’ replied the monarch, as if a sudden thought had struck him; ‘I mean to say it has done its duty once, and is ready to do it again.’
1865. G. F. BERKELEY, My Life and Recollections, II. 302. It was just as he said; our host did wake, but seeing a bottle with wine in it, closed his eyes, and Loraine soon made another ‘MARINE.’
2. (nautical).—See quot.
1840. R. H. DANA, Jr., Two Years Before the Mast, ch. xvii. MARINE is the term applied more particularly to a man who is ignorant and clumsy about seaman’s work—a green-horn—a landlubber.
TELL THAT TO THE MARINES. See HORSE MARINES, and add following quots.
1830. W. T. MONCRIEFF, Old Booty! A Serio-comic Sailor’s Tale, p. 31.
| So luff there with your death-bed scenes, | |
| And TELL THAT tale TO THE MARINES,— | |
| Those lubbers may perhaps receive it, | |
| But sailors never will believe it. |
1836. M. SCOTT, Tom Cringle’s Log, ch. vii. I told them who I was, and that curiosity alone brought me there. ‘Gammon, TELL THAT TO THE MARINES; you’re a spy.’
1846. Punch, v. p. 3. A New National Drama. Admiral. But I’ve bad news for you, my boy. The Admiralty has forbidden smoking on board … except in the galley. Tom. TELL THAT TO THE MARINES. What! your Honour, forbid a sailor his pipe!
