Naval The official naval word, verb and noun, for Frolic, Playing about, Ballyragging. In sailing ship days the order "Hands to dance and skylark" was sometimes given; this was probably as a form of physical training, to liven the crew up after a period of dullness, the 'skylarking' perhaps referring to races run in the rigging. Probably the only occasion when this order is to be hear in modern times is before a dance on board when the french chalk on the "ball room" deck needs to be rubbed in.