navy-regulation

Updated: May 10, 2025

This baldness was no doubt, in great part, attributable to the same cause that early thins the locks of most man-of-war's-men namely, the hard, unyielding, and ponderous man-of-war and navy-regulation tarpaulin hat, which, when new, is stiff enough to sit upon, and indeed, in lieu of his thumb, sometimes serves the common sailor for a bench.

Herman Melville - White Jacket: or, the World on a Man-of-War