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Grog

Grog was the term used in the Royal Navy for the ration of watered-down rum (50/50 rum/water) issued to all seamen over twenty. It came by the name grog from Admiral Vernon who, in 1740, ordered the men's ration of rum to be watered down. He was called Old Grogram because he often wore a grogram coat - grogram being a coarse fabric of silk mixed with wool or mohair and often stiffened with gum - so the watered rum came to be called grog. The Royal Navy discontinued the practice of issuing rum in 1970.

Often a sailor might repay a colleague for a favour by giving him part or all of his grog ration, ranging from sippers (a small amount), gulpers (a larger quantity) or grounders (the entire tot).

The tern groggy meaning to be tired or drunk, comes from the effect of consuming too much grog.

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