Boot

[JPablo]

boot U.S. Navy, Marines. a recruit.
How would you translate "boot" in the nautical sense into Spanish?

[wafflestomp]

We don't call them "boots" just to let you know... training camp is generally known as "boot camp" however.

[JPablo]

I see, I got the above definition (a recruit) from Random House Unabridged, and the context (some excerpt notes from 1948) "In the first place the boot is stunned and bewildered by the immensity and the strangeness of the seagoing civilization into which he has enlisted", seems to indicate "boot" is a "new recruit".

Any other ideas?

Any other ways to refer to a naval recruit?

I tried a Google search without much joy...

[wafflestomp]

A naval or marine recruit is called a "midshipman" if they are in the academy (officer school).
A lot of times they call new recruits "swabs" in the navy.. the term "boot" is a real term, it's not wrong, but I have family in the marines and they don't really use it modernly. Boot is a marine term though.

Grunt is also a very common term used for non-commissioned marines.

[JPablo]

Thank you! That is very helpful.

Now... does anyone has some Spanish equivalents??

Swabs reminds me "limpia" (as a noun in Spanish, shortening for "limpiabotas" the guy who polishes shoes and boots... but used to refer to a new recruit in the Army, not in the Navy, that I know...)

I know "novato" or "bisoño" which seem pretty general term... In English I believe there is also "swamper". And in Spanish "grumete" (cabin boy)...

In the Spanish Army, the guys who are veterans are called "bisa" (from bisabuelo = great-grandfather)

Anyhow, any further input either Spanish from Spain or from Latin America, or The Philipines for that matter... will be appreciated.