Acronyms that contain the term bilge-water 

bilge-water

The rain or sea-water which occasionally enters a vessel, and running down to her floor, remains in the bilge of the ship till pumped out, by reason of her flat bottom, which prevents it from going to the well of the pump; it is always (especially if the ship does not leak) of a dirty colour and disgusting penetrating smell. It seems to have been a sad nuisance in early voyages; and in the earliest sea-ballad known (temp. Hen. VI.) it is thus grumbled at:-- "A sak of strawe were there ryght good, For som must lyg theym in theyr hood, I had as lefe be in the wood W'out mete or drynk. For when that we shall go to bedde, The pumpe was nygh our bedde's hedde; A man were as good to be dede As smell thereof ye stynk." The mixture of tar-water and the drainings of sugar cargo is about the worst perfume known.

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