ditty bag 的词源

“水手用来装针、线、剪刀、顶针等小物件的袋子”，1828年，海军俚语，起源不明，可能源自英国海军的短语 commodity bag。因此也有了 ditty-box（1841年）。

Every true man-of-war's man knows how to cut out clothing with as much ease, and producing as correct a fit, as the best tailor. This is a necessity on board ship, for the ready-made clothing procured of the purser is never known to fit, being generally manufactured several sizes larger than necessary, in order that it may be re-cut and made in good style. [Charles Nordhoff, "The Young Man-of-War's Man," 1866]

每个真正的军舰水手都知道如何像最好的裁缝一样轻松地裁剪衣物，并且能做出合身的服装。这在船上是必需的，因为从军需官那里买来的成衣通常都不合身，通常比实际需要的大好几号，以便可以重新裁剪并制作得体。[查尔斯·诺德霍夫，《年轻的军舰水手》，1866年]