ditty bag 的詞源

"水手用於存放針、線、剪刀、頂針等小物件的小袋子"，1828年，航海俚語，起源不明，可能來自所謂的英國海軍短語 commodity bag。因此也有 ditty-box（1841）。

Every true man-of-war's man knows how to cut out clothing with as much ease, and producing as correct a fit, as the best tailor. This is a necessity on board ship, for the ready-made clothing procured of the purser is never known to fit, being generally manufactured several sizes larger than necessary, in order that it may be re-cut and made in good style. [Charles Nordhoff, "The Young Man-of-War's Man," 1866]

每個真正的軍艦水手都知道如何輕鬆地裁剪衣服，並且能夠做出與最好的裁縫一樣合身的衣服。這是在船上的必要技能，因爲從軍需官那裏購買的成衣通常不合身，通常比實際需要的尺寸大幾個尺碼，以便可以重新裁剪並製作成好的樣式。[查爾斯·諾德霍夫，《年輕的軍艦水手》，1866年]