The Saturday briefing

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ALL AT SEA: Bill Nighy portrays Davy Jones in Pirates Of The Carribean and, below, Greta Garbo

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Can you tell me the origins of the maritime saying, “he's gone down to Davy Jones’ Locker" when a ship has sunk or someone has drowned.

Philip Engelen, Cape Town, South Africa

Davy Jones’ Locker is a term shrouded in mystery. A staple of maritime folklore, some suggest it emerged in the 18th century - others trace it back much further. Early seafarers believed Davy Jones was a malevolent spirit of the seas whose appearance is said to foretell storms and shipwrecks. His locker is the bottom of the ocean, where he keeps sunken ships and is the final resting place of sailors who perish at sea.

Stories of Davy Jones spread across ports and ships, serving as cautionary tales and explanations for unexplained losses. One theory connects the name to the biblical prophet Jonah, who was cast overboard by sailors, causing the storm to abate. Jones may be an alteration of Jonah — sailor slang for a person who brought bad luck.