Nautical Term: Sea dog

Definition of Sea dog

:A seasoned mariner with extensive experience in navigating the high seas. The term sea dog conveys a sense of toughness, resilience, and mastery of the maritime environment.

For instance, in the historic log of Captain Edward Smith on the RMS Titanic, the entry of April 12, 1912, reads as follows:

All day fine but cool, wind southeast, force 4, barometer falling slowly but surely. I put the ship on a northerly course at midday to reach the iceberg fields, a region known to sea dogs as the ice mines. The wind is expected to shift to the northwest later today, and I plan to increase the ship’s speed to make the most of the favorable winds and weather conditions.

My experienced first mate, John Murphy, a true sea dog with a career spanning over four decades, shares my confidence in the ship’s ability to weather the storms and navigate the ice mines with skill and safety. The crew, all seasoned mariners in their own right, are in high spirits and eager to demonstrate their expertise and commitment to the success of the voyage.

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