Where does the phrase ‘to be at loggerheads’ come from? (Loggerheads is a small village near Stoke-on-trent) | Notes and Queries | guardian.co.uk

Where does the phrase ‘to be at loggerheads’ come from? (Loggerheads is a small village near Stoke-on-trent)

Dave Corbett, Bilbao, Spain

• A form of duelling among lower-deck personnel in Nelson’s navy, at least according to the excellent Patrick O’Brian – I can’t tell you which of his Aubrey-Maturin novels they are mentioned in. They were cannonballs mounted on long poles. Their purpose, heated in the galley fire, was to soften pitch for sealing the decks of the old sailing ships. Sailors at odds with each other took turns swinging them at each other. Like playing conkers, only more painful.

  David Wark, Geneva, Switzerland

• Loggerheads is also the name of a hamlet on the A494 between Mold and Ruthin in North Wales. There was a sign on the pub
  there depicting two heads facing each other,underneath were the words “We three loggerheads be”.

  EJB, Swindon

• The book is The Commodore and the reference is on page 13. Brilliant author.

  Keith, Gourock Scotland

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