timmynoggy

• timenoguy

Probably ultimately based on Old French Old French timon (“tiller”) + English guy.

• IPA^(key): /ˈtɪmɪnɒɡi/

timmynoggy (plural timmynoggies)

1. (nautical) A rope used on a ship to prevent other lines and riggings tangling with each other.

   Synonym: timenoguy

   • 1911, Leonard George Carr Laughton, Roger Charles Anderson, William Gordon Perris, The Mariner's Mirror Volume 1‎^[1], Society for Nautical Research, page 188:

     I cannot suggest the derivation of this word, but in the form of Timmynoggy it was well-known all my time in the Navy, 1867-1886. Perhaps its best known application was used in connection with the lower studding-sail. In setting this sail it was hoistered clear of the hammock netting, rolled up and held by a strop and toggle, which was slipped as soon as the sail was clear of the ship—this strop and toggle was called the Timmynoggy.
     The name Timmynoggy was also applied to the various strop and toggle "gadgets" used in connection with upper yards and top-gallant masts to gain time in sail drill. C.C.G.

   • 1925, Edward Fraser, John Gibbons, Soldier and Sailor Words and Phrases Including Slang of the Trenches and the Air Force; British and American War-words and Service Terms and Expressions in Every-day Use; Nicknames, Sobriquets, and Titles of Regiments, with Their Origins; the Battle-honours of the Great War Awarded to the British Army‎^[2], G. Routledge and sons, Limited, page 282:

     Timmynoggy: Otherwise Timonoguy—(originally an old sail-drill period term). Given to various strop and toggle gadgets on board ship, used in connection with the upper yards to save time in sail drill. Given to various strop and toggle gadgets on board ship, used in connection with the upper yards to save time in sail drill.

   • 1929, United States Naval Institute, United States Naval Institute Proceedings Volume 55, Issue 2‎^[3], page 656:

     Graduates of the Naval Academy will find in this book many definitions which would have been of inestimable value to them during their "plebedom." In fact, the definition of "timmynoggy" would have saved the writer much mental and some physical exertion.

   • 1973, Eric Partridge, Jacqueline Simpson, The Routledge Dictionary of Historical Slang‎^[4], page 5497:

     A term for almost any time- or labour-saving device: naval: ca 1850-95. Ex dial. ‘’timmynoggy’’, ‘a notched square piece of wood; used to support the lower end of the “vargood” or long spar serving as a bowline, itself ex dial. ‘’timmy’’, the stick or bat used in the game of rounders. cf. GADEGT

   • 1975, Nautical Research Guild, Nautical Research Journal Volume 21‎^[5], page 94:

     I wonder if we might here be dealing with yet another variant of the word timmynoggy. This was the name for a candle-holder of iron, and lacking a sliding-piece. But it also had several other nautical meanings in Cornwell. One of these seems especially relevant, since it refers to the notched piece of wood, against which the foot ...

   • 2014, McWilliams, John, The Cornish Fishing Industry An Illustrated History‎^[6]:

     There were local names for this rope roller; it was called the 'bulljowler' in St Ives and the 'timmynoggy' in parts of Mount's Bay.

2. (by extension) Given to various strop and toggle gadgets on board ship, used in connection with the upper yards to save time in sail drill.

   Holonym: gadget

   • 1911, Leonard George Carr Laughton, Roger Charles Anderson, William Gordon Perris, The Mariner's Mirror Volume 1‎^[7], Society for Nautical Research, page 188:

     I cannot suggest the derivation of this word, but in the form of Timmynoggy it was well-known all my time in the Navy, 1867-1886. Perhaps its best known application was used in connection with the lower studding-sail. In setting this sail it was hoistered clear of the hammock netting, rolled up and held by a strop and toggle, which was slipped as soon as the sail was clear of the ship—this strop and toggle was called the Timmynoggy.
     The name Timmynoggy was also applied to the various strop and toggle "gadgets" used in connection with upper yards and top-gallant masts to gain time in sail drill. C.C.G.

   • 1925, Edward Fraser, John Gibbons, Soldier and Sailor Words and Phrases Including Slang of the Trenches and the Air Force; British and American War-words and Service Terms and Expressions in Every-day Use; Nicknames, Sobriquets, and Titles of Regiments, with Their Origins; the Battle-honours of the Great War Awarded to the British Army‎^[8], G. Routledge and sons, Limited, page 282:

     Timmynoggy: Otherwise Timonoguy—(originally an old sail-drill period term). Given to various strop and toggle gadgets on board ship, used in connection with the upper yards to save time in sail drill. Given to various strop and toggle gadgets on board ship, used in connection with the upper yards to save time in sail drill.

3. (by extension) A device more or less makeshift, to enable something to be done more expeditiously than would be possible in the ordinary way.
   • 1973, Eric Partridge, Jacqueline Simpson, The Routledge Dictionary of Historical Slang‎^[9], page 5497:

     A term for almost any time- or labour-saving device: naval: ca 1850-95. Ex dial. ‘’timmynoggy’’, ‘a notched square piece of wood; used to support the lower end of the “vargood” or long spar serving as a bowline, itself ex dial. ‘’timmy’’, the stick or bat used in the game of rounders. cf. GADEGT

4. Candleholder of iron.

   Synonym: Sticking Tommy

   • 1975, Nautical Research Guild, Nautical Research Journal Volume 21‎^[10], page 94:

     I wonder if we might here be dealing with yet another variant of the word timmynoggy. This was the name for a candle-holder of iron, and lacking a sliding-piece. But it also had several other nautical meanings in Cornwell. One of these seems especially relevant, since it refers to the notched piece of wood, against which the foot ...