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powder monkey
noun
- (formerly) a boy employed on warships to carry gunpowder from the magazine to the guns.
powder monkey
noun
- (formerly) a boy who carried powder from the magazine to the guns on warships
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Word History and Origins
Origin of powder monkey1
First recorded in 1675–85
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Example Sentences
He was a powder monkey, which meant it was his job to rush heavy bags of explosive gunpowder to the men loading the cannons.
From Literature
Historically, children often served in ancillary roles during wartime, as couriers, drummer boys, or “powder monkeys,” who ferried ammunition to cannon crews.
From The New Yorker
During the Napoleonic Wars, so-called “powder monkeys,” some as young as ten, helped arm cannons for the British Navy.
From The New Yorker
He was a drill runner and powder monkey before he became a blaster.
From New York Times
We learnt about powder monkeys when we visited HMS Victory so I was interested to read this poem.
From The Guardian
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