subs. (nautical).—A coastguardsman; whence GOBBIESHIP, a man of war engaged in the preventive service.
1890. Scotsman, 4 Aug. When a meeting takes place the men indulge in a protracted yarn and a draw of the pipe. The session involves a considerable amount of expectoration all round, whereby our friends come to be known as GOBBIES, and in process of time the term came to be applied to the ships engaged in the service. Ibid. There are no fewer than three other GOBBIE SHIPS in the channel fleet, each of which carries a considerable number of coastguardsmen putting in their annual period of drill.
