shore leave

noun

, Navy.

1. permission to spend time ashore, usually 48 hours or more, granted a member of a ship's company.
2. the time spent ashore during such leave.

shore leave

noun

1. permission to go ashore Compare liberty
2. time spent ashore during leave

Word History and Origins

Origin of shore leave¹

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

And they flock to bars, offering to buy rounds for sailors on shore leave.

From The Daily Beast

But of course the Baron had arranged it all, for it was at his instigation, I recollect, that the crew had been given shore-leave.

From Project Gutenberg

You get a hundred and sixty dollars for the trip, and you'll have about two weeks shore leave on the other side.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus the inevitable informing larrikin, eager to cadge a drink from the tourist on shore leave.

From Project Gutenberg

But Coburn doubted very much if they were as completely unarmed as men on shore leave usually are.

From Project Gutenberg

There were some Italian police in view, but most of the men about were American seamen, ostensibly on shore leave.

From Project Gutenberg