Double crossed

The adjective “cross” which is used by the English to mean ill-tempered apparently had it’s origins in 15th century shipping.

It comes from annoying “cross-winds” which were a real pain in the arse for the old school sailing ships (they couldn’t sail very close to the wind).

In Australia we just say we are “pissed off” (shortened by the Americans to “pissed”) which is also nautical in origin and from the same period.

It relates to the shipment of cargoes of concentrated and smelly urine via boats for use in dying fabrics and gunpowder production.

Crews who had been assigned shipments of urine rather than more conventional wares were said to be “pissed off.”

Pity the poor bastards when they also met some cross winds eh?