Weather

Under the weather

'Under the weather' is a phrase one hears regarding a person's health than a weather condition. I've a notion that its origins may be from the age of sail, but not sure about that.

Thanks,

Jack McBain

BinaryGeek Wed 02/01/08 14:06

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billearly
Fri 04/01/08
15:25

From the book Red Herrings and White Elephants by Albert Jack......................To be Under The Weather means to feel unwell and unable to function properly, and is yet another phrase with its origin out to sea. In days gone by when a sailor was ill he would be sent below decks where he could recover. Under the decks and "under the weather" his condition could begin to improve.So you were right about the sea Jack

Quizmonster
Fri 04/01/08
17:36

I suspect Albert Jack - referred to in the answer above - is a founder member of CANOE...that's the Campaign to Ascribe Nautical Origins to Everything!
He also claims 'square meal' is from a centuries-old nautical tradition of serving sailors' food on a square wooden tray. It isn't and is recorded nowhere prior to its use by hoteliers in mid-19th century America. (Click http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-squ3.htm "> here for the opinion of Michael Quinion, a proper etymologist, on 'square meal'.)
The word 'weather' has been used to suggest both beneficial and unfavourable conditions since, of course, it may be nice and it may be nasty. I suspect that, joined to the word 'under', the automatic feeling is that it is nasty. Hence, 'under the weather' probably just meant grey, cold, nasty and all the other words one attaches to feeling unwell.
Red Herrings and White Elephants is an entertaining read, but I'd advise anyone to treat it as just that!

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