A shipboard song, heard primarily on merchant ships during heavy work, such as turning the capstan or hoist ing a sail, to help coordinate the men's efforts and to pass the time. A designated chanteyman led the singing, and the crew joined in, the cadence varying according to the type of work being done. The custom dated from the 16th century. The word is said to come from the French chanter, "to sing". (King, Hattendorf & Estes, 1995)