flunky n also flunkey. Cp DC flunkey 2 (1923) for sense 1.
   1 An unspecialized helper aboard a fishing vessel (P 245-55).
   1936 SMITH 85 I will give you the carpenter, a good man, Skipper Samuel Bonnell, and Willie Campbell, also the kitchen flunkey, Robert Spracklin, who was on all calls. 1976 Decks Awash Aug, p. 19 When we went trapping the fish, I went flunky, pronging the fish out of the boat. When I would fill the box, they would give me a fish and this was my pay.
   2 An anchor fixing a trawl-line in place.
   1938 MACDERMOTT 170 The trawl is anchored to the bottom by a small anchor called a 'flunkey' on either end.
   3 Comb flunky buoy, ~ keg: a float.
   1942 Grand Bank U C School 39 ~ On the bank fishery, this is used at any point of the trawl to tell fisherman how far he has removed fish from the hooks. P 113-79 ~ keg: small keg kept aboard dory and used to temporarily support a trawl with a heavy catch of fish while taking the catch off the hooks.

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