Salty Dogs! When's the last time you heard the term "Geedunk"? Personally I haven't heard it in about 30 years.

(For you landlubbers "Geedunk" refers to snack/junk foods or the ship's canteen store where snack foods were sold)

An interesting history of the word:



Navy Traditions and Customs

Gedunk (also Geedunk and Gedonk)

Gedunk refers to ice cream, candy, potato chips, and other snack foods, as well as to the place on a ship where these items are sold. The first known published usage of the term "gedunk" in a non-naval context is in a 1927 comic strip which refers to "gedunk [ice cream] sundaes." In 1931 it was mentioned in Leatherneck magazine; subsequent early naval usage incluses Robert Joseph Casey'sTorpedo Junction: With the Pacific Fleet from Pearl Harbor to Midway (published in 1943); and Robert Olds' Helldiver Squadron: The Story of Carrier Bombing Squadron 17 with Task Force 58 (published in 1944).

Usage of the pejorative term "gedunk sailor" to refer to an inexperience sailor apparently dates to 1941, and is mentioned in Theodore C. Mason's Battleship Sailor, published in 1982.

The origin of the word gedunk is uncertain, though it has been suggested it derives from a Chinese word referring to a place of idleness, or a German word meaning to dunk bread in gravy or coffee.

Ice-maker and refrigerated compartments were first introduced on some U.S. Navy ships in 1893, and an ice-cream maker is reported on board USS Missouri (Battleship No. 11, later BB-11) as early as 1906.

Source of Information:

Davis, Martin. Traditions and Tales of the Navy. (Missoula, MT: Pictorial Histories Publishing Company, 2001): 45.

Harrod, Frederick S. Manning the New Navy: The Development of a Modern Naval Enlisted Force, 1899-1940. (Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1978): 148.

Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Volume 1, A-G. (New York: Random House, 1994): 875.

ETA: We were told in bootcamp that the word was an onomatopoeia referring to the sound a coin made when dropped into a vending machine.

i used it last week at work, and only the other old Navy vet knew what the hell i was talking about.

That's a good one. How bout scuttlebutt.

Probably 1973.

Zuzus and whamwhams.

Not familiar with either. "Scuttlebutt" is still in my vocab and even non-Nav types know what it means.

Haven't heard it since I got out.

Approximately last fall.
I was getting something from the vending machines at work when another Navy vet referred to it as "geedunk".  

Before that... eh maybe 10+ years or so

I had heard or read of the term from volumes of World War II books.

Fast forward to 1999 (Holy Shit, some of our readers weren't even born!) and the Atlantic Fleet and All-Navy shooting matches at Dam Neck, Virginia Beach.  The matches are hosted and run by the Navy Shooting Team -- active, reserve, and retired Sailors, Coasties, and Marines.

In the target pits area for rifle they set up a field Geedunk Locker complete with grills, fridges, and tables where you could buy hot dogs, hamburgers, pop, chips, etc. for literally half-price what you'd pay at the Navy Exchange.  Imagine being hungry (from 0500-0600 muster) and wanting a little sumthing-sumthing.  A burger, chips, and Gatorade or soda for around $4?

Man, they made a fortune off all the visiting Doggies (as well as all the other shooters).

Did they dispense a sea biscuit?

I occasionally use it, but Im a dirt sailor.

I haven't heard it since my joint assignment in Japan 91-96.


Retired USAF Comm geek.

Haven't heard it in a long time.

Learned what it was on my first mission flying into Cubi Pt back in '79.

"Comshaw" or "Cumshaw" is another navy term I've not used since I got out.

This one just came to mind....

"Horse Cock": Bologna esp. those big "loaves" before slicing for sammiches, breakfast, etc.

I haven't used that term in decades but I might start again.

Geedunk is still used in every EOD shop regardless of branch.

SINCE I LEFT THE CORPS IN 93.
I GOT TO WORK IN OURS WHEN I FIRST ARRIVED AT THE MAG...FOR ABOUT A MONTH, THEN WENT TO MY SQDN.

Summer 2006. Exact phrase was "hey Porter get off your fat fucking ass and clean under the geedunk machines." 1st Sgt. Bachmann 2d aavbn b co hq plt

Frequently, but that's because there's another Navy guy in my office. But was certainly tossed around at Field Med School at Pendleton and other schools I attended in the early 2000's.

There's two prior USN on my work shift.  I hear it at least once a week.

Former USMC here ('77-'81)- We most often called it 'pogey bait' (as in POGUE, that species of chair-warming REMF's that infested S-1 offices, S-4 supply rooms, etc).

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Used it about two weeks ago at an airshow.

licky chewy's

In the Army, I've always heard it as POG (People Other than Grunt) bait. The term Fobbit is also relevant.