blow the grampus

English

Verb

blow the grampus (third-person singular simple present blows the grampus, present participle blowing the grampus, simple past blew the grampus, past participle blown the grampus)

1. (nautical, slang, obsolete) To throw water on a sleeping person, generally as a practical joke.
   • 1829, William Nugent Glascock, Sailors and Saints: Or Matrimonial Manœvres, page 179:

     There was the goggle-eyed daughter a blowing the Grampus with the platter-faced planter, whenever he caulked [slept] upon deck; […]

   • 1840, Edward Howard, Jack Ashore, page 127:

     " […] why then we must blow the grampus."
     He then discharged the contents of the water-jug on her face and neck, and she opened her eyes, and would have screamed, had not the prompt Horatio clapped his hand over her mouth.