An inexperienced or broken- down seaman, such as used to be placed in the waist of a man- of- war to do duty not requiring much exertion or a knowledge of seamanship: a green hand.
Many was the gaping waister and rigid marine, who now made a more familiar acquaintance with the element on which he floated than suited either his convenience or his humour. "The Red Rover", James Fenimore Cooper.
Many was the gaping waister and rigid marine, who now made a more familiar acquaintance with the element on which he floated than suited either his convenience or his humour.
The direct contrary or opposite; the back of a coin or medal; opposite to obverse; a change for the worse; misfortune; as business reverses; defeat; as, the enemy met with a reverse. ...