The Nautical Roots of 9 Common Phrases by Mark S. Longo The
Vikings, Columbus, the Pilgrims "¦ they all arrived here by
ship. So it stands to reason that some of the phrases we use
today were born on the high seas. While sources differ on the
roots of many sayings, others have a clear path to the days of
sailing across the ocean. Here's a look at 9 family-friendly
phrases that likely came from the mouths of sailors. 1. Clean
Bill of Health The "Age of Sail" in the 18th and early 19th
centuries was a glorious time in naval history marked by many
epic battles on the high seas, but it was also a time of
widespread disease. In order to receive permission to dock at a
foreign port, ships were often required to show a bill of
health—a document that stated the medical condition of their
previous port of call, as well as that of everyone aboard. A
"clean bill of health" certified that the crew and their
previous port were free from the plague, cholera and other
epidemics. Today, a person with a "clean bill of health"