Where Did The Term “Under The Weather” Come From?
We know what it means, but where did it originate? Find out.
Quick Reference
- Phrase: “Under the weather.”
- Meaning today: Feeling slightly ill.
- Origin: Sailor’s slang. Crew or passengers who became seasick went below deck during rough weather, literally taking shelter “under the weather.”
- Full original phrase: “Under the weather bow,” meaning the side of the ship taking the worst of the storm.
- Documented in: “Salty Dog Talk: The Nautical Origins of Everyday Expressions” by Bill Beavis and Richard G. McCloskey.
So much of the language we speak today comes from many sources, spanning many centuries and stretching across multiple cultures. Here at the Farmers’ Almanac, we like to uncover the origins of popular folklore, and the words and phrases used in everyday speech, especially those associated with the weather, one of our favorite topics.
Most of us know what it means to be “under the weather,” but where did this common expression originate?
A Sailor’s Phrase
Linguist Richard Lederer tells us that “under the weather,” meaning feeling ill, comes from the language of sailors.
On the high seas, when the wind would start to blow hard and the water became rough, crewmen and travelers would go below deck and down to their cabins in order to ride out the storm and avoid becoming seasick. In this way, they literally retreated to a location “under the weather.”
In digging a little further, we find out more. According to Salty Dog Talk: The Nautical Origins of Everyday Expressions by Bill Beavis and Richard G. McCloskey, the term in its entirety is “under the weather bow.” The authors tell us the weather bow is “the side [of the ship] upon which all the rotten weather is blowing.”
Why “Bow”?
On any ship, the “bow” is the front. The “weather side” is the side facing the wind. So the “weather bow” is the front-and-windward corner of the ship, the corner that takes the most spray and chop in a storm. A passenger sent below to escape that pounding was, in plain terms, “under the weather bow.” The phrase shortened over time to “under the weather,” and the original sea-going meaning faded as the figurative one took over.
Other Weather Idioms with Sailor Roots
“Under the weather” is far from the only weather idiom that came in from the sea. English is rich with them, especially in the everyday phrases we still use without realizing where they came from.
| Phrase | Original sea meaning | Modern meaning |
|---|---|---|
| By and large | Sailing both close to and away from the wind | Generally, on the whole |
| Three sheets to the wind | Three loose sail-control lines, ship out of control | Drunk |
| In the offing | Visible at sea, approaching shore | About to happen |
| High and dry | Beached above the waterline at low tide | Stranded, abandoned |
| Batten down the hatches | Secure the cargo hold covers before a storm | Prepare for trouble |
| A loose cannon | An unsecured cannon rolling on a ship’s deck | An unpredictable person |
When the Phrase First Appears in Print
The earliest known print appearance of “under the weather” in the figurative sense (meaning unwell) dates to the 1820s in American newspapers. By the mid-1800s the phrase was common in everyday speech across the United States and Britain, no longer tied to ships at all. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary still lists “under the weather” with two senses: somewhat ill, and slightly intoxicated, both descended from the same nautical root.
Other Weather Phrases Worth Tracing
- “Raining cats and dogs” may come from old thatched roofs where cats and small animals slept. In a downpour, the wet animals would slide off, looking like they were falling from the sky.
- “It’s a fine kettle of fish” originally referred to a Scottish fishing-village picnic, where a freshly caught batch was boiled and eaten on the riverbank.
- “Calm before the storm” reflects the real meteorological pattern in which a low-pressure system pulls air in from all sides, briefly stilling the wind before the front arrives.
- “Come hell or high water” originally referred to the two greatest threats faced by Texas cattle drivers, drought and flood.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “under the weather” mean?
Today it means feeling slightly ill. The original sailor’s meaning was literal: a passenger who went below deck to escape a storm and avoid seasickness was “under the weather.”
Where did the phrase originate?
In sailor’s slang. Linguist Richard Lederer traces it to the practice of crew and passengers retreating below deck to ride out rough weather and avoid seasickness.
What is the original full phrase?
“Under the weather bow.” According to Salty Dog Talk by Bill Beavis and Richard G. McCloskey, the weather bow is the side of the ship taking all the rotten weather. The shorter “under the weather” is what survived in everyday speech.
When did the phrase first appear in print?
The earliest known figurative usage (meaning unwell) appears in American newspapers from the 1820s. By the mid-19th century the phrase was in widespread civilian use on both sides of the Atlantic.
Does “under the weather” also mean drunk?
In some dialects, yes. Merriam-Webster lists two senses: somewhat ill, and slightly intoxicated. Both descend from the same nautical root, since seasickness and drunkenness produce similar symptoms.
What other weather phrases come from sailors?
“By and large,” “three sheets to the wind,” “in the offing,” “high and dry,” “batten down the hatches,” and “a loose cannon” all started as ship-deck shorthand. Each shifted into figurative civilian use as English-speaking nations spent centuries with their economies tied to the sea.
Where does “raining cats and dogs” come from?
One leading theory traces it to old thatched roofs in pre-modern England, where cats and small animals slept. In a heavy downpour, the wet animals would lose their grip and slide off, looking, to anyone watching, like they were falling from the sky.
Tell Us
Is there a word or phrase you have always wondered about? Mention it in the comments below and we will do the research. For more weather etymology, see our haboob and weird weather terms entries.
This article was published by the Staff at FarmersAlmanac.com. Any questions? Contact us at questions@farmersalmananac.com.
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Actually “under the weather deck” the ship’s weather deck is exposed to the elements; therefore to get shelter from the elements, as for an ill sailor, one must be “under the weather deck”.
Where did the term “,dead gum” originate.
Actually “dad gum” or “dad gum it”
For Pete Sake= St Peter, guardian of the pearly gates to Heaven.
*Typo … “Midland”, TX, not Nidland
Origin of, “fair to midland”, given in response when asked how someone is doing/feeling?
Does this have anything to do with Nidland, TX? Bc it’s pretty close to being “mid-Texas”, lol
Thx in advance
m/
It should be fair to middlin, from Appalachian dialect. Meaning doing so-so
From cotton grading; fair to middling being one of the grades of raw cotton fibers.
Where did Holy Cow come from!!
Where did the expression “Heaven to Murgatroid!” Originate?
Shiver me timbers
Emily C. Back in the day when they had thatched roofs dogs and cats would hide up there to stay dry. When it poured though they would jump out to find a much dryer place to hide, hence.. It’s raining cats and dogs.