Espinillas peladas

[Glen]

I'm translating the personal journal of a Puerto Rican veteran of World War II, written in Spanish. He was aboard a US Navy ship and one night when they had General Quarters "las espinillas peladas abundaron." What was it that abounded? All I've found is "peeled shins" but I'm hoping someone knows.

[poli]

I think sores or llagas.-- festering wounds

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

I think it means exactly "peeled shins". Most of them (if not all), must have had bruised legs after the battles...

[Glen]

You're right Angélica, it really is peeled shins. I was too hasty in posing the question before looking further into it. What I've since learned is that General Quarters was a WWII naval order for all members of the crew to report to their battle stations at once, which would account for so many bumps and scrapes from climbing those vertical metal ladders to get there in a hurry.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

I was thinking that they had disembarked, but climbing up and down those ladders must have been hard indeed.