Irish Pennant

[Zardoz]

I agree with the article. This slang amounts to an ethnic slur against the Irish. I think it ought to be relegated to the dustbin of history. My unit never used this phrase. We called them..."threads". ;)

I always preferred a lighter for dealing with them over a pair of scizzors, although I keep a pair of snips like the ones Kyle posted in my tackle box. They're perfect for cutting fishing line.

I'm surprised that given my history and ethnicity I've never heard that term, but then I was never around the Navy much.
I'd hope most any ethnic slurs ought to be relegated to the "dustbin of history". But even with all the folks here that work so hard at being offended, ethnic slurs against the Irish always seem to get a pass here on the forum.