Yep...well I suppose this is classed as passive smoking
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| Loose Cannon http://briercliffesociety.co.uk/talkback/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=1541 |
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| Author: | Mel [ Wed Jul 23, 2008 4:20 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Loose Cannon |
A loose cannon was one which had broken loose from its fastenings particularly on wooden ships of war. This made them very dangerous when fired. |
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| Author: | charon10 [ Wed Jul 23, 2008 6:18 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Loose Cannon |
sorry Mel, but I don't think there would be any question of firing a loose cannon - the recoil would propel it backwards at great speed. The danger was that as the ship rolled or pitched, a loose cannon - which might weigh several tons - would charge around the deck on the wheels of its carriage and mow down anyone or anything in its way. Such incidents occur several times during battles in the marvellous series of naval historical novels by Patrick O'Brian - well worth reading if one can ever find time away from the ancestors! You may have seen Master and Commander, but it doesn't do anything like justice to the books. Charon |
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| Author: | Mel [ Wed Jul 23, 2008 6:23 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Loose Cannon |
It was an idiom on the back of Lyndons cigarette papers....caught my eye. |
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| Author: | charon10 [ Wed Jul 23, 2008 6:25 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Loose Cannon |
just another of the dangers of smoking, then Charon |
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| Author: | Mel [ Wed Jul 23, 2008 7:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Loose Cannon |
Yep...well I suppose this is classed as passive smoking
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