Why do they call it cockpit?
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
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From: UK
Well I'll offer my theory, no idea if it's right.
Once upon a time, when our entertainment was less sophisticated, we used to fight animals against each other for sport. This was often done in a specific construction, commonly a hole. The village I grew up in had a strange shaped and rather deep pond called the "cockpit". If you hunt around quite a few English towns and villages had cockpits, the names of which linger. Whether chickens get a better time of it now is of course debatable.
I think it became a nickname for the "command" area of boats as they started to be enclosed, and eventually the accepted name. A small boat still has a cockpit.
And as aeroplanes appeared, we borrowed a great deal from mariners, including the gold bars on your shoulder. I think we also borrowed the term "cockpit".
Well that's my theory, for which I've no proof at all.
G
Once upon a time, when our entertainment was less sophisticated, we used to fight animals against each other for sport. This was often done in a specific construction, commonly a hole. The village I grew up in had a strange shaped and rather deep pond called the "cockpit". If you hunt around quite a few English towns and villages had cockpits, the names of which linger. Whether chickens get a better time of it now is of course debatable.
I think it became a nickname for the "command" area of boats as they started to be enclosed, and eventually the accepted name. A small boat still has a cockpit.
And as aeroplanes appeared, we borrowed a great deal from mariners, including the gold bars on your shoulder. I think we also borrowed the term "cockpit".
Well that's my theory, for which I've no proof at all.
G
Iconoclast
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: The home of Dudley Dooright-Where the lead dog is the only one that gets a change of scenery.
Genghis gets the cigar.
Late 16th century. Originally pit for cockfighting, later place for treating wounded below decks in warship (from the association of blood and noise), later well at yacht stern where helm is.]
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Lands End
Man of the Marsh
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: LGW
On Tech Log? Surely not! Good to see all the original replies are still going strong.
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 112
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From: Anywhere but Ireland...
Guys,
Just occurred to me that 'cockpit' can be broken up into 'cock' and 'pit' (gasp!).
Now, in Swedishm 'pit(t)' means 'd*ck' and obviously 'cock' is 'd*ck' in English as well.
So could it have been named for the two 'd*ckheads' that reside there?
Just occurred to me that 'cockpit' can be broken up into 'cock' and 'pit' (gasp!).
Now, in Swedishm 'pit(t)' means 'd*ck' and obviously 'cock' is 'd*ck' in English as well.
So could it have been named for the two 'd*ckheads' that reside there?
Fleet Manager
Joined: Apr 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 7,448
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From: various places .....
... at the risk of being a party pooper, perhaps we should consider those of our members who might take exception to the line of discussion and let the topic die a natural death ?
