Sojer (Soldier)
A derogatory term applied to those aboard who pulled less than a regular Jack Tar's share work. It denoted a shirker or goldbricker, one who always stands clear of work or hangs back when there's duty to be done.
Marines aboard ship acted as soldiers and although they performed sentry duty and the like, they had no real involvement with the actual working of the ship. They were also used as quasi armed police force over the sailors, who hated them beyond measure.
As such, sojer and marine were interchangeable when used to describe crewmen viewed as lazy or ignorant of a sailor's work and therefore fit only "to keep the bread from moulding". When used by our real Tar, sojer was about as stinging a rejoinder of contempt as could be mustered.
The old salt's adage " a messmate before a shipmate, a shipmate before a stranger, a stranger before a dog, but a dog before a sojer", pretty much sums it up.
