powder monkey
- noun
- /ˈpaʊdər ˈmʌŋki/
- Archaic
:
niño de pólvora
- The ship's crew relied on the powder monkeys to transport ammunition quickly during intense cannon fire.
Examples
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In the 18th century, powder monkeys played a crucial role by delivering gunpowder from the magazine to the cannons.
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All right, powder monkeys in!
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Why, you little powder monkey!
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You ain't bigger than a couple of powder monkeys.
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Only the powder monkeys and the foreman left.
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We need a powder monkey -- vincente, the best in the territory.
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My father-in-law was a powder monkey in Superior, Wyoming, and a Fire Boss in Price, Utah.
Blog text (29) -
During naval battles, the young boys known as powder monkeys risked their lives to carry gunpowder to the gunners.
Synonyms
A person who carries gunpowder to cannons on a ship or in the army
How Dangerous
- Specialized
1
7.5
46
6.1
- Archaic
8
5.7
- Archaic
4
6.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun 'powder' clearly points to gunpowder and 'monkey' is often used metaphorically for a small, nimble person, so a learner who knows both words can plausibly infer this refers to a person associated with powder. However, the precise historical naval role (a young boy who carried gunpowder on a warship) is specialized and culturally specific rather than fully predictable from the parts, so the expression is only partially transparent.
Etymology
The noun powder monkey comes from the days of sailing warships, where small boys ran gunpowder from the ship's storage to the cannons. People thought of these quick helpers as a monkey and their load as powder, so the phrase means 'a young person who carried gunpowder to the guns'.