Daily AncestorPowder monkey
A powder monkey was a boy on a warship who carried gunpowder from the magazine to the guns in battle; later the term meant a blaster in mines and construction.
In the age of sail, powder monkeys ferried gunpowder from the powder magazine deep in the ship to the gun crews. The job usually went to boys of about 12 to 14, chosen because they were quick and small enough to move between decks. They held no official rank.
The U.S. Navy used powder boys from the late 1700s until the Spanish-American War, though after the War of 1812 boys under 12 were barred. Later the term was applied to explosives workers who did blasting in mines and demolition.
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Powder monkey." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/occupations/powder-monkey. Last checked 2026-10-10.