The Nautical Encyclopedia

Patterson’s Illustrated Nautical Encyclopedia — Howard Patterson, 1891

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Home ⚓ Letter S ⚓ Salt Horse

Salt Horse

Sea Terms

A sailor's term for the salt beef issued to the crew.

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2026 Editor's Note: 'Salt horse' — the sailor's name for barrel beef, with mock-epitaphs recited over it — is the fo'c's'le's food humor at full strength; naval messes kept the nickname for corned beef a century more. (Ed: BR 2026-06-15)

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The Nautical Encyclopedia (1891) is in the public domain; this digital edition © 2026 PhotoOpAI.