The Limber holes on a submarine gets its name from the Limbers of old wooden sailing ships. Although the function and design of submarine limbers is different from the design of wooden ship limbers, the basic concept is similar and so is the name. To understand the etymology of the word Limber, it is necessary to describe early uses of the word.

Limbers (which has, as one of its components Limber Holes) were certain square holes cut through the lower parts of a ship's floor-timbers, very near the keel. Being disposed in a line, parallel to the keel, they form a channel, which communicates with the pumps throughout the whole length of the floor, so that the water which enters by a leak, and would otherwise be intercepted by the timbers, is easily conveyed to the well-room, where the pumps are fixed. [southseas.nla.gov.au]

The Limbers on a submarine no longer consist of the channel and are located on the top of the submarine. Their function is, however, similar. Limbers on a submarine allow water (when surfacing) and gas (when submerging) to easily escape from the spaces between the pressure hull and the outer structures of the submarine. In essence the submarine Limbers are conveying water/gas out of the submarine and, in this function comes the etymology of Limber.

Here is where it gets wacky. According to the Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology the origin of the term Limber, in the context of holes in timbers for the passage of water. XVII. perh. — (O)F. lumière light, hole (used in the same techn. sense) :- Rom. *l?min?ria, fem. sg. use of pl. of L. l?min?re light, lamp, f. l?men, l?min-

This seems quite a stretch to me. The term Limber Hole was in use starting in the 1500’s. I suppose that some designs of limber holes “could” allow the passage of light but it just does not make sense. Far be it for me to disagree with the ODEE, but perhaps another source would shine more light on the origins of Limber.

Like many of our words, the etymology can be unclear. There are other sources that link Limber to the Middle English lymour from the Latin limonarius, meaning shaft of a cart (this is incidentally where we get the word limousine.) [www.yourdictionary.com]

This makes a little more sense as in the original usage of Limber, it was a system of channels (shafts?) between parts of the ship to convey water either overboard or to a sump for pumping.

Anyone else find another etymological source for Limber?