Nautical Term: Hog

Definition of Hog

Hog is a nautical term used to describe a special tool employed for cleaning the underside of a ship while it’s submerged in water. Unlike a regular scrub-broom, the hog is typically constructed with harder materials, such as iron or steel, to better withstand the harsh conditions of underwater cleaning.

For instance, imagine a merchant vessel that has spent months traveling through rough seas. Upon arriving at its destination, it’s discovered that the ship’s hull has been badly scuffed and scraped during its journey. In order to restore the ship’s hull to its former condition, the crew would need to employ the use of a hog, or underwater cleaning tool, to effectively scrub away the scuffs and scrapes from the ship’s hull while it’s submerged in water.

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