British naval term of the eighteenth century. Meaning to issue a double
ration of
rum upon completion of some particularly difficult task, such as successfully sailing a
ship through a storm. A cause for
celebration.
Origin:
The main brace in a
square rigged sailing ship was a large rope that helped secure the main sail when it was pushed around into the wind, so large and cumbersome that it required huge effort on the part of the crew to move it.