Dictionary of Marine Corps
Terms and Words
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ABOARD: on base; with us.
ACTUAL: radio talk for unit commander.
ALL HANDS: everyone.
AMTRACK: amphibious
tractor; landing craft.
AO DAI (Viet.): formal
attire worn by Vietnamese women.
AS YOU WERE!: resume what you
were doing; correction.
ASSHOLES AND ELBOWS: in a hurry;
quickly.
BA MUI BA ("33"): Vietnamese
beer.
BAC SI (Viet.): Doctor, used for
Corpsman.
BAM: Broad Ass
Marine; derogatory name for Woman Marine.
BARRACKS COVER: garrison (frame)
cap.
BATTLE PIN: necktie
clip.
BCD: Bad Conduct
Discharge.
BELAY: stop; quit.
BILLET: assignment or job;
place of residence.
BIRD: aircraft.
BLOUSE: n. jacket; v. tuck
in, secure.
BLOUSING BANDS: elastic bands
used to secure utility trouser cuffs.
BLUES: Dress Blues.
BLT: Battalion
Landing Team.
BOONDOCKS (BOONIES): rugged isolated
back country.
BOONDOCKERS: low-topped work
boots issued to reservists.
BOOT: recruit.
BOO-COO: (Fr. beaucoup)
much, many.
BRAIN HOUSING GROUP: your gourd,
mind, brain, or head.
BRASS: officers.
BRIG: jail.
BRIG RAT: jail
inmate.
BRIG CHASER: MP assigned to
escort prisoners.
BROTHER: black Marine
(also Splib).
BROWN SIDE-OUT: desert
camouflage pattern.
BULKHEAD: wall.
BY-THE-NUMBERS: in
sequence.
CANNON COCKERS:
artillerymen.
CARRY ON!: resume what you
were doing; as you were.
CASUAL COMPANY: unit of Marines
awaiting reassignment.
CC: Corrective
Custody; jail, the brig.
CHUCK: black Marine's
term for white Marine.
CG: Commanding
General.
CHIEU HOI (Viet.): freedom; safe
conduct pass; program whereby VC who
surrendered were assured
safe conduct.
CHIMPO: see choda.
CHIT: written
authorization or receipt.
CHODA: same as
chimpo.
CHOW: food.
CHOW HALL: mess hall.
CLICK: one notch of
adjustment on a rifle.
CINDERELLA
CO (Viet.): girl, woman.
COLORS: n. the flag; v.
ceremony of raising or lowering the flag.
CON BIET? (Viet) do you
understand?
C-RATS: C rations,
canned field rations.
COM RATS: commuted
rations; in lieu pay for meals eaten off base.
CORPSMAN: Navy medic
serving with Marines.
COVER: hat.
COVER ASS: take precautions
to avoid blame.
THE CROTCH: derogatory term
for Marine Corps.
CRUISE: period of
enlistment; tour of duty.
DECK: floor.
DEUCE-AND-A-HALF: 2 1/2 ton
truck.
DI-DI (Viet.): leave, go, move
out.
DI-DI MAU (Viet.): emphatic of
Di-di.
DIDDY BAG: cloth,
draw-string bag for small items.
DIDDY BOP: swagger;
affected walk.
DINK: Vietnamese.
DINKY-DAU (Viet): crazy.
DOG-AND-PONY-SHOW: special
presentation put on for visiting dignitaries.
DOUBLE TIME: quickly; at a
run.
DRY FIRE: practice.
DRY RUN: practice.
DU-DIT (Viet): fuck you!
EIGHTH & EYE: Headquarters
Marine Corps.
ENTRENCHING TOOL (E-TOOL): small folding
field shovel.
EVERY SWINGING DICK: All hands,
everyone.
EYE FUCK: scrutinize;
inspect closely.
FARTSACK: mattress
cover.
FIELD DAY: general cleanup
of barracks.
FIELD SCARF: necktie.
FIELD STRIP: disassemble;
take apart.
FIRE IN THE HOLE!: warning that
explosives are about to be detonated.
FIRST SHIRT (ALSO TOP): First
Sergeant.
FLOAT PHASE: sea deployment
of a Marine unit.
FMF: Fleet Marine
Force.
FOUR-BY: light
truck.
FRONT LEANING REST
POSITION:
pushup position ("the Position").
GALLEY: kitchen.
GANG WAY!: stand back! move
away!
GEDUNK: sweets or a
store that sells sweets.
GEAR: equipment.
GI CAN: garbage
can.
GIZMO: gadget; anything
that defies description.
GOURD: head; where you
hang your cover.
GREEN SIDE-OUT: woodland pattern
camouflage.
GRAB A HAT: leave.
GRINDER: parade
ground.
GUIDON: pennant bearing
unit designation.
GUNG HO: lit. work
together; (from Chinese) highly motivated.
GUNGY: gung ho.
GUNNY: Gunnery Sergeant.
GRABASS (ORGANIZED
GRABASS):
play; sports, frivolous activity.
GREEN MACHINE: Marine
Corps.
HAM: Hairy Assed
Marine; male Marine.
HAM AND MOTHERS: "Ham and
Motherfuckers;" generally detested C-ration
meal posing as ham and
HATCH: door.
HARD CHARGER: motivated
Marine.
HEAD: toilet.
HIGH-AND-TIGHT: standard Marine
haircut; shaved sides and short on top.
HOOCH (Jap.): any kind of
shelter, residence.
HONCHO (Jap.): boss; man in
charge.
HOUSE MOUSE: Drill
Instructor's go-fer.
HUMP: to march; to
carry; to be burdened with.
HUSS: a favor; a break
e.g., "gimme a huss;" archaic name for HU34D helicopter.
INCOMING!: hostile fire
being received!
IRISH PENNANT: string dangling
from clothing indicating unkempt appearance.
ITR: Infantry
Training Regiment.
JARHEAD: Marine.
JIBS: teeth, esp.
front incisors, e.g., "I'll bust your jibs."
JING (also jing-wa, Jap.):
change; money.
JOE SHIT THE RAGMAN: bad example,
un-squared-away Marine,
boyfriend of Rosy
Rottencrotch.
JUNK-ON-THE-BUNK: complete
clothing and equipment inspection
(also
Things-on-the-Springs) laid out on the rack.
K-BAR: Marine-issue
fighting knife.
KLICK: kilometer.
LADDER (or ladder way):
stairs.
LAI DAY (Viet.): come here!
LEAVE: authorized
absence of more than 24 hours.
LOCK AND LOAD: arm and ready
your weapon; get ready!
MAKE A HOLE!: stand back! gang
way!
MAGGIE'S DRAWERS: red disc used on
the rifle range to signify missing the target.
MOS: assigned job
specialty.
MUSTANG (Mustanger): enlisted man who
becomes an officer.
NON-QUAL: Marine who fails
to fire a qualifying score at the rifle range.
OFFICE HOURS: summary court
marshal, official inquiry or reprimand.
OFFICE POGUE: desk-bound
Marine.
ONTOS: armored tracked
vehicle mounting six 106 mm recoilless rifles.
OUTSTANDING!: exceptional;
well done!
OVERHEAD: ceiling.
OVER THE HILL: absent without
authorization.
OVER THE HUMP: more than
halfway through enlistment.
PASSAGEWAY: corridor;
hallway.
PIECE: rifle.
PISS CUTTER: envelope-shaped
overseas cap.
PISS-AND-PUNK: bread and water
punishment.
PISS TUBE: field urinal;
rocket launcher (bazooka), which resembles one.
POGUE: lazy individual,
also office worker.
POGEY BAIT: candy,
sweets.
POLICE CALL: time allocated
to clean up an area.
POLICE UP: clean up.
POOP (also dope, scoop):
information.
POP-FLARE: hand held and
launched aerial illumination flare.
PT: Physical
Training; exercise.
QUARTERS: living
space.
RACK: bed, bunk.
RAPPEL: descend from
cliff or helicopter by rope.
RECON (also Force
Recon):
Force Reconnaissance Marine.
ROMP 'N' STOMP: to drill,
march.
ROUND: bullet or
artillery or mortar shell.
RUBBER LADY: inflatable air
mattress.
SALT: experience; an
old-timer Marine.
SALTY: smart-mouthed;
opinionated.
SCOPE OUT: look at.
SCOSHI (or scosh'): small,
short, a little bit.
SCUTTLEBUTT: rumors; a
drinking fountain.
SEABAG: duffle bag.
SEA DUTY: billeted aboard
a ship.
SEA GOING BELLHOP: derog. for
Marine, from Marines assigned to the bridge of a vessel.
SEA STORY: a lie or an
exaggeration.
SEA LAWYER: self-appointed
expert.
SECURE: tie down or make
fast; also to recycle or dispose of; to put something
in its proper place; to
desist.
SEVEN-EIGHTY-TWO GEAR: field equipment;
canvas web gear.
SHIT BIRD: messy or
undisciplined; a fuck up.
SHIT CAN: (v) to dispose
of; (n) garbage can.
SHORT: nearing the end
of a tour of duty or enlistment.
SHORT ROUND: ordnance which
is landing short of the intended target.
SHORT TIME: a very brief
love affair.
SHORTTIMER: Marine nearing
the end of an enlistment period.
SIX-BY (six-by-six): standard three-axle
truck.
SIX-SIX-AND-A-KICK: The ultimate
General court marshal punishment consisting of
six months forfeiture of
pay, six months hard labor, and a
dishonorable
discharge.
SKIPPER: captain;
commanding officer.
SKIVVIES: underwear.
SKIVVIE HONCHO: a lothario; a
ladies man.
SKIVVIE HOUSE: brothel.
SLOPCHUTE: diner;
restaurant.
SMOKING LAMP: authority to
smoke when it is lit.
SNAP IN: practice, esp.
on the rifle range.
SNOOPIN' AND POOPIN':
reconnoitering.
SNOT LOCKER: nose.
SOUND OFF!: assertively
voice.
SORRY 'BOUT THAT!: assertion of
mock apology.
SPLIB: white Marine's term
for black Marine.
SPUD LOCKER: pantry.
SQUARED AWAY: neat, orderly,
organized.
SQUID: (derog.)
sailor.
STACK ARMS!: command given to
place 3 rifles in a pyramid.
STACKING SWIVEL: appendage near
muzzle of rifle allowing stacked arms; neck.
STAND BY!: prepare.
STANDBY: waiting
status.
STARCHIES: starched
utilities.
STROKE BOOK: porno
magazine.
SURVEY: dispose of;
recycle.
SWAB: mop.
SWABBIE: sailor.
TI TI (Viet.) (pron.
tee-tee):
little, small.
TOP: Sergeant
Major.
TOPSIDE: upstairs; on
deck.
TROPS: khaki tropical
summer dress uniform.
TURN TO: begin work.
UA: Unauthorized
Absence.
UD: Undesirable
Discharge.
UTILITIES: olive drab field
uniform.
WILLIE PETER: white
phosphorus.
THE WORD: confirmed
official information; the straight scoop.
ZERO-DARK-THIRTY: pre-dawn; early.
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