Okay, I'll be the dummy. I'm 44 and I don't recall hearing it. ??? If I
had
to guess I would say dip the eye in the drink to soften it. ????


It is a courtesy to put your lines under the other boaters lines and if he
has an eye onto a piling or ballard, you slip your line through his eye and
then over the piling/ballard. This means that he can remove his line and
leave without removing your line or similarly if you leave first.

The US Navy does this when mooring ships to large cleats and ballards where
multipule lines are secured.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions