stand fast the Holy Ghost

interjection

A sailor's cry in response to the announcement of up spirits (the handing out of the daily rum ration).

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Meanings

interjection
  1. historicalhumorousnauticalA sailor's cry in response to the announcement of up spirits (the handing out of the daily rum ration).

Origin

A punning retort to up spirits, since to stand fast is not to rise up, and spirit may refer to alcohol or to a ghost.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

stand fast the Holy Ghost. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stand%20fast%20the%20Holy%20Ghost

MLA

“stand fast the Holy Ghost.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stand%20fast%20the%20Holy%20Ghost. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “stand fast the Holy Ghost,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stand%20fast%20the%20Holy%20Ghost.

Source: stand fast the Holy Ghost on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.