A generic shipyard and rigging term for various protective mixtures smeared over masts, standing rigging, and hull seams. Slushing stuff is typically made of animal fat and protects exposed wood and metal from saltwater corrosion. Paying stuff is a hot pitch or resin mixture poured into deck seams to make them watertight.
Heard on the job
Grab a bucket of slushing stuff and get to work on the mainmast before the weather turns.
Also heard as
- slushing stuff
- paying stuff