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cdiver2
Contributor
This definition of "Toe The Line" is slightly different from the one I remember, but is probably the correct one (and my memory is suspect these days anyway):
According to the U. S. Naval Historical Center's website,
The space between each pair of deck planks in a wooden ship was filled with a packing material called "oakum" and then sealed with a mixture of pitch and tar. The result, from afar, was a series of parallel lines a half-foot or so apart, running the length of the deck. Once a week, as a rule, usually on Sunday, a warship's crew was ordered to fall in at quarters -- that is, each group of men into which the crew was divided would line up in formation in a given area of the deck. To insure a neat alignment of each row, the Sailors were directed to stand with their toes just touching a particular seam. Another use for these seams was punitive. The youngsters in a ship, be they ship's boys or student officers, might be required to stand with their toes just touching a designated seam for a length of time as punishment for some minor infraction of discipline, such as talking or fidgeting at the wrong time. A tough captain might require the miscreant to stand there, not talking to anyone, in fair weather or foul, for hours at a time. Hopefully, he would learn it was easier and more pleasant to conduct himself in the required manner rather than suffer the punishment. From these two uses of deck seams comes our cautionary word to obstreperous youngsters to "toe the line."
Sounds about right. And far more interesting and complete than my remembered definition, which was to fall into formation in a straight line, toes even along an imaginary line on a steel deck, or along a plank seam on a wooden deck.
When called to line up at attention, the ship's crew would form up with their toes touching a seam in the deck planking.
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