ballroom n Jocular name for crew's quarters on a sealing vessel.
   1916 MURPHY 11 The 'ballroom,' so called, where the majority of the crews slept, was for-ard of the main hatch or hold of the ship. 1933 GREENE 40 The bulk of the crew were provided with double berths rigged-up in the Tween-decks over the ballast tanks of the Main Hold. The 'Ballroom'was the Forecastle, where on some ships the Masters of Watches and Engineers had their berths. C 71-94 "Preparations for the Seal Fishery": The 12th of March is drawing nigh / So we must all prepare / Our coffee pots and panikins / A sealer's life to share / And in the ballroom build the bunks. 1972 SANGER 235 ~ Forecastle of a sealing vessel used to accommodate a portion of the extra men hired on for the sealing voyage.

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