Where does the term deep six come from?

Question

Navy Trivia

Answer 1

While "six feet under" meaning "dead and buried" (from the standard grave depth of six feet) might seem the source of "deep six," it actually began as a nautical term. In the days before sonar, soundings of the water's depth were taken by the "leadman" with a weighted line marked in fathoms (a unit equaling six feet). A leadman's cry of "six deep" or "by the deep six" meant six fathoms (36 feet), or quite a bit of water, beneath the keel. Since something jettisoned into six fathoms of water was unlikely to ever be seen again, by the early 20th century "deep six" had come to mean "to get rid of" something, especially by putting it where it could never be found.

deep six

1. Also, give or get the deep six. Burial at sea. For example, When the torpedo hit our boat, I was sure we'd get the deep six. This expression alludes to the customary six-foot depth of most graves. [Early 1900s]
2. Disposal or rejection of something, as in They gave the new plan the deep six. This usage comes from nautical slang of the 1920s for tossing something overboard (to its watery grave; see def. 1). It was transferred to more general kinds of disposal in the 1940s and gave rise to the verb to deep-six, for "toss overboard" or "discard."

Answer 2

Deep Sixed

Answer 3

Deep Six Meaning

Answer 4

The "Deep Six" is the maritime slang for a burial at sea. On land You are buried 'six feet under'. A fathom is six feet (depth of water), so it is easy to see the association between the two.
There is even a very famous novel (and a movie starring Alan Ladd and William Bendix made in 1957) of the same name written by Martin Dibner. Well worth the reading!

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Where does the term deep six come from?
Navy Trivia

Answer 6

From burying people "six feet under" which is the standard depth for a grave. Thus, to deep six something is to kill it.

Answer 7

Because people are buried 6 feet under the ground?