Before the mast

Phrases and Terms: Before the mast
Literally, the position of the crew whose living quarters on board were in the forecastle (the section of a ship forward of the foremast). The term is also used more generally to describe seamen as compared with officers, in phrases such as "he sailed before the mast."

Term is still used by Admiral Mc Elligott and thus copied and used by others. (Completley missing the original meaning)