noun General Slang

deck ape

· noun · military

An undesignated seaman doing grunt work on the deck force.

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Definitions

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An undesignated seaman assigned to the deck force — the unglamorous division that chips paint, hauls mooring lines, runs replenishments, and does whatever physical labor needs doing topside. Often a kid fresh out of boot who hasn't been to a school yet. Half insult, half badge of honor; deck apes wear it themselves.

“I spent my first six months as a deck ape before I got picked up for the GM school.”
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deck ape In A Sentence

I spent my first six months as a deck ape before I got picked up for the GM school.

Origin & Usage

US Navy. Aimed at the deck division — the sailors who chip paint, haul line, and stand topside watches with no specialty rating yet. The 'ape' part is the joke about pure muscle, zero finesse.

Variants deck-apedeckape
Tags #military#navy#deck-force#rate

People Also Ask

What does deck ape mean?

It's a term for an undesignated seaman doing grunt work on the deck force.

How do you use deck ape in a sentence?

"Before I got my rate, I was just a deck ape chipping paint all day."

Is deck ape offensive?

It's rough, informal navy slang and can be used dismissively, though sailors also use it about themselves.

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