pump ship

pump ship

euphemism To urinate. A reference to the practice of pumping out water that accumulates in the bilges of nautical vessels. He stood up and mentioned discreetly that he needed to pump ship before exiting the room to find a water closet.
See also: pump, ship
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

pump ship

urinate. euphemistic
The expression originated in nautical terminology, denoting the pumping of water from a ship's bilges.
See also: pump, ship
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

pump ship

1. tv. to urinate. (Crude. From an expression meaning to pump the bilge water from a ship.) He stopped and pumped ship right in the alley.
2. tv. to empty one’s stomach; to vomit. (Crude. Less well known than the previous sense.) After I pumped ship, I felt better.
See also: pump, ship
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • make water
  • pass water
  • go number one
  • go to the lavatory
  • nature calls
  • answer nature's call
  • relieve (oneself)
  • relieve oneself
  • bathroom
  • go to the bathroom
References in periodicals archive
"The recovery itself of the cargo should take place at the end of June with the arrival in Brest of the pump ship Crystal Ocean", TotalFina said in a statement.
OIL PUMPING TO START FROM ERIKA TANKER WRECK OFF FRANCE