Wow! Brian that sure is some digging you have done to get this great explaination for 'seacunny' One would think that sailors would have been some of the earliest people to adopt words from other countries. Isn't it wonderful how the languages of the world are blending. But of course there are also some words that we can do without. Meg ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brian M Morley" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2005 8:02 AM Subject: [AUS-IMM-SHIPS] Re: Occupation Sea-Cunny > Hi Leanne, > > SEACUNNY, s. This is, in the phraseology of the Anglo-Indian marine, a > steersman or quartermaster. The word is the Pers. sukkani, from Ar. > sukkan, > 'a helm.' > c. 1580.-"Aos Mocadões, Socões, e Vogas."-Primor e Honra, &c. f. 68v. ("To > the Mocuddums, Seacunnies, and oarsmen.") > > c. 1590.-"Sukkangir, or helmsman. He steers the ship according to the > orders > of the Mu'allim."-Ain, i. 280. > > Brian M Morley > Ipswich Queensland Australia > > > _____________________________ > "Genealogy is breaking bread with the dead"