dirt Navy
n.— «It appears the new CNO has read it and uses it to justify a “dirt Navy,” a replacement for the on-board Marine detachments that seem to be forming their own force.» —“Re: A Brain Pentagon Wants to Pick” by Jack Linthicum Usenet: sci.military.naval Oct. 22, 2005. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
We have books for language-lovers and recommendations for history buffs. • How did the word boondoggle come to denote a wasteful project? The answer involves the Boy Scouts, a baby, a craft project, and a city council meeting. • Instead of reversing...
Sometimes it’s a challenge to give a book a chance: How many pages should you read before deciding it’s not worth your time? There’s a new formula to help with that decision — and it’s all based on your age. • Have you ever...