aye aye, sir

alternative aye, aye, sir · alternative aye-aye, sir · alternative aye, aye, Sir · alternative aye-aye, Sir · alternative aye aye, Sir

1. idiomaticnauticalThe correct and seamanlike reply, onboard a Royal Navy and US Navy ship, on receipt of an order from someone of senior rank or authority. It means "I understand the command and hasten to comply with the order."

   1 more example

   “I fear that there is something more serious than accident here, Mr. Brently,” said the captain. “I wish that you would make a personal and very careful examination of Mr. Caldwell’s effects, to ascertain if there is any clew to a motive either for suicide or murder—sift the thing to the bottom.” “Aye, aye, sir!” responded Mr. Brently, and left to commence his investigation.

   1913 June–December, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “The Wreck of the ‘Lady Alice’”, in The Return of Tarzan, New York, N.Y.: A[lbert] L[evi] Burt Company, […], published March 1915, →OCLC, page 172

1. alternativeAlternative form of aye aye, sir.

   "Get a U-boat for me - that is an order." / "Aye aye, Sir."

   1979, John Drew, “The Battle of the Atlantic”, in War Time Romances of Sailors, Bognor Regis, West Sussex: New Horizon, →ISBN, page 123

   2 more examples

   ‘Go slow ahead together, and come round to oh-one-oh.’ / ‘Aye aye, Sir . . . Slow ahead together. Starboard ten.’

   1961, Alexander Fullerton, chapter 8, in The Waiting Game: A Novel, New York, N.Y.: Ives Washburn, published 1962, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 76

   “[…] I want a real-time rolling Plot display of where they were, or are, or will be at any time, including a margin of maximum error. Make it fast, people!” There was a rapid chorus of “Aye aye, Sir!” from the trainees.

   2014, Peter Grant, “Rolla System – June 2848 GSC”, in Adapt and Overcome (The Maxwell Saga; 3), Fynbos Press, →ISBN, page 272