Birkenhead drill

noun

The concept or practice of taking women and children first in an evacuation or rescue.

Meanings

noun
  1. The concept or practice of taking women and children first in an evacuation or rescue.

Origin

Named from HMS Birkenhead, which struck a rock and sank in 1852.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Birkenhead drill. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Birkenhead%20drill

MLA

“Birkenhead drill.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Birkenhead%20drill. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Birkenhead drill,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Birkenhead%20drill.

Source: Birkenhead drill on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.