powder-monkey

She winna let the powder-monkey of a boy help her.

Saint Ronan's Well 2008

The Revolution entitled the strong populace of the Faubourg St. Antoine, and every horse-boy and powder-monkey in the army, to look on Napoleon as flesh of his flesh and the creature of his party: but there is something in the success of grand talent which enlists an universal sympathy.

Representative Men 2006

Captain Farmer, who had come out of his cabin again immediately on hearing the lifeboat's crew called away, down to the youngest cadet and powder-monkey, was willing and anxious to do his best to save our unfortunate shipmate, without one of us knowing as yet who the poor fellow was whose life was thus imperilled.

Crown and Anchor Under the Pen'ant John B. [Illustrator] Greene

And did we not show them the very guns, and the muskets, the pistols and the cutlasses, the shot-lockers and magazines, and tell them how the lad, scrubbing a brass kettle in the caboose, had been occupied as a powder-monkey and seen blood shed in earnest?

Recollections of Old Liverpool A Nonagenarian

Captain Scott, of the cutter, told me a singular story of what occurred during the action between the Constitution and Macedonian, -- he being powder-monkey aboard the former ship.

The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 17, No. 102, April, 1866 Various

When the captain in command at the station hails on board, every man and boy of the crew, from the powder-monkey to the first-lieutenant, are mustered in pipe-clay on the quarter-deck, and there, with the ship's commission in his hand, every one must report himself as he calls over the names.

Willis the Pilot Paul Adrien

Ellangowan had him placed as cabin-boy or powder-monkey on board an armed sloop or yacht belonging to the revenue, through the interest of the late Commissioner Bertram a kinsman of his own.

Chapter LII 1917

Below them came the Admiral, with his wife (she always came and sat behind him, like a remarkably smart little powder-monkey, during the afternoon drive): below them, the Gilmertons; and last of all, thank Heaven!

The Right Stuff Some Episodes in the Career of a North Briton Ian Hay 1914

I was powder-monkey on the _Royal George_; he was Hawke's orderly midshipman.

The Gentleman A Romance of the Sea Alfred Ollivant 1900

Ding-dong, pit-boy and powder-monkey and all, only for that.

The Gentleman A Romance of the Sea Alfred Ollivant 1900