Rhymes of the Rookies Part 13

Jump--to admonish.

K. O.--the commanding officer.

Major--name by which the sergeant-major is usually called by the enlisted men.

Mill--Guard-house.

Mule-skinner--a teamster.

Non-Com--non-commissioned officer.

O. D.--the officer of the day.

Officers Line, or Officers Row--the row of houses where the officers and their families live.

Old Issue--an old soldier.

Old File--an old officer.

Old Man--the company commander.

On Official Terms--not to be on speaking terms except officially.

On the Carpet--called before the commanding officer for admonition.

Openers--cathartic pills.

Orderly Buckle--a soldier when going on guard who strives by extra neatness of appearance to be designated as orderly for the commanding officer.

Orderly Room--company office.

Outfit--one's organization in the army.

Over-the-Hill--to desert.

P.--Prisoner.

Pills--the hospital steward.

Punk--light bread.

Q. M.--the quartermaster.

Q. M. D.--quartermaster's department.

Ranked-out--to be compelled to vacate by a senior, as "to be ranked out of quarters."

Red-tape--official formality; that is, the close or excessive observance of forms and routine in the transaction of business.

Regimental Monkey--the drum major.

Re-up--to re-enlist at once.

Rookie--a new recruit.

Sand-rat--an officer or soldier on duty in the rifle pit at target practice.

Saw-bone--the doctor.

Shave-tail--a new second lieutenant. So called, after the young, unbroken mules in the Quartermaster's Department.

Shoved up--to p.a.w.n.

Shutters--camphor or opium pills.

Sinkers--dumplings.

Sky-scout--the chaplain.

Sky-pilot--the chaplain,

Slap-Jacks--pan cakes.

Slum--a stew of meat, potatoes and onions, mostly potatoes and onions.

Soap Suds Row--the laundresses' quarters.

Soldier, to--to soldier, to serve; also to s.h.i.+rk.

Soldiers' One Per Cent--one hundred per cent.

Sow-belly--bacon.

Stars and Stripes--beans.

Striker--a soldier who works for an officer.

Take-on--to re-enlist before the expiration of three months after discharge.

The Old Man--term sometimes used by officers and soldiers in referring to the commanding officer; sometimes used by soldiers in referring to their company commander.

To Take Another Blanket--same as "Take-on."

Top Sergeant--first sergeant.

Up the Pole--to swear off drinking.

Yellow-leg--cavalryman.