Military Affairs (nonnaval)

The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military Further reading

powder monkey

The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea | 2006 | Copyright

powder monkey, a ship's boy during the days of sailing warships whose duty, when the crew was piped to quarters for battle, was to carry powder from the magazine to the gun-decks. They were helped in this task by any woman who might be on board, Mary Anne Talbot being one example. Many of the larger ships carried three or four wives of trustworthy petty officers or seamen when at sea, particularly for their value in nursing the wounded after battle. The powder they, and the powder monkeys, carried to the gun-decks was weighed out into silk bags in the form of cartridges for the guns.

See also budge-barrel; warfare at sea.

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powder monkey

The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military | 2001 | Copyright

powder monkey
1. a boy employed on a sailing warship to carry powder to the guns.

2. a person who works with explosives.

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"powder monkey." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"powder monkey." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-powdermonkey.html

"powder monkey." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-powdermonkey.html

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

	'anti monkey butt' powder gets to the bottom of things.(Local) Newspaper article from: The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA); 11/23/2009
	ARCTIC MONKEYS; For Pucci in the powder and downhill Dior, look no further.... Newspaper article from: The Evening Standard (London, England); 2/3/2006
	Monkey business.(Features) Newspaper article from: Daily Post (Liverpool, England); 6/19/2010