kragen sitaker kragenpoboxcom owen byrne writes quoting httpwwwquinioncomwordsqaqashi2htm shiver timbers tad spencer please could tell phrase shiver timbers originated one supposedly nautical expressions seem better known couple appearances fiction actual sailors usage exclamation may allude ship striking rock obstacle hard timbers shiver shake implying calamity occurred first recorded used captain frederick marryat jacob faithful 1835 wont thrash tom shiver timbers seems implausible shiver means shake dont recall seeing word used transitively sense web1913 lists sense v intransitive transitive sense shiver longer use people used widely 1800s web1913 doesnt even list archaic obsolete means shatter splinters normally blow shivering boats timbers course leaves boat shivering happen hit rock hard enough leaves sinking boat shiver timbers reasonably interpreted vivid way saying may die suddenly interpretation suggested quinion may boat damaged neither makes much sense context obeys normal rules grammar ive sent copy quinion thu 19 sep 2002 131804 0400 avast matey