Was 'By and Large' a Real Sailing Command?
About this video
Discover the surprising sailing origin of the phrase 'by and large.' In this video, we explain how this everyday English idiom once described a ship's ability to sail in all directions, and how it evolved to mean 'mostly' or 'in general.' Perfect for ESL learners and anyone curious about the hidden history behind common expressions. Chapters: 00:00 A real sailing command? 00:16 By: into the wind 00:32 Fluent sailor? 00:48 Sailing 'by' 01:04 Why 'by' mattered 01:18 Sailing 'Large' 01:34 The Wind Dial 01:50 Opposite Ends 02:06 Why it mattered 02:22 First recorded 02:38 Not 'mostly' 02:54 The Real Meaning 03:10 Language Generalizes 03:26 That's the twist: 'by and large' never meant 'mo 03:42 Echo of the Sea 03:58 Taken Aback 04:14 Loose Cannon 04:30 Sailor's Fleet 04:46 Echo of Skill 05:02 Fluent Sailor 05:18 A Ship's Full Range 05:34 A Captain's Trust 05:50 Writers Adopt It 06:06 The Hidden Echo Sources & further reading: ā¢ Oxford English Dictionary ā Entry for 'by and large' with earliest recorded usage. ā¢ The Sailor's Word-Book ā https://archive.org/details/sailorswordbook00smytrich ā¢ Etymonline ā https://www.etymonline.com/word/by%20and%20large ā¢ Royal Museums Greenwich ā Articles on nautical terminology and sailing history. ā¢ Merriam-Webster Dictionary ā Definition and usage notes for 'by and large'. ā¢ BBC News ā Article on nautical idioms in everyday English.
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