Hammock History

For centuries the hammock has been utilized as a simple and efficient use of sleeping space below decks. Easily rigged and stowed, the hammock is a temporary structure comprising of a slung fabric or net between two fixed points. The humble hammock has faithfully served seafarers to provide a comfortable night’s sleep by keeping the occupant level, regardless of the movement of a boat in motion on the sea. As additional security, the cocoon-like sides envelop the sleeper and prevent him from rolling out.

Hammocks and the Royal Navy

Hammocks were adopted by the Royal Navy in the 1590s and remained in use until after WWII. However, the hammock’s origin comes from the natives of Central and South America and was used to keep occupants aloft and out of reach of the insects, snakes and other biting creatures of the jungle floor. Allegedly, Christopher Columbus first brought hammocks into European use where they have since proven popular with, sailors, soldiers and explorers.

Origins of the word ‘Hammock’

The word ‘Hammock’ derives from a native Haitian phrase meaning ‘fishnet’, and early hammocks were woven out of bark from a hamack tree.

Traditions

Seafarers have many traditions associated with hammocks. These include being used as an improvised coffin for sailors buried at sea. The phrase ‘show a leg’ relates to the hammock where the hidden occupants were required to show their leg on change of watch. This was because prostitutes were allowed aboard ships in the 19th Century and showing a leg would quickly enable a watch leader at morning muster to readily distinguish a shapely feminine limb from the much hairier peg of a lazy deckhand.

The use of show a leg as a wake-up call was reported by a previous 20th Century poet laureate John Masefield who was a trainee in the late 1800s on HMS Conway. He recorded the morning call as:

Heave out, heave out, heave out, heave out! Away!
Come all you sleepers, Hey!
Show a leg and put a stocking in it.

today

Hammocks remain popular today both above and below decks. Regular users often prefer to rest diagonally in a hammock saying that this is the most comfortable position as opposed to lying along its length or across its width. Many allege that the hammock is soothing to those with back and joint problems.

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The hammock as an icon of America herself: engraving by Theodor Galle after Stradanus, ca 1630

References: From “Hammock.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 10 Jul. 2016. Web. 15 Aug.

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