"Popular at sea"

[Morathi]

I have found this clause in a text. I guessed it might be a fixed expression for "very popular" or "bacome popular abruptly" or something like that. Is it so? I´ll leave the whole sentence so you get the idea:

"Fitting a length of cord to the mount of a sword had become popular at sea by the end of the 17th century".

Thanks in advance

 

[maxiogee]

I presume it means that this fitting of the cord was done by naval officers who were at sea. It suggests that those ashore did not do this at that time - or that only naval officers did it and thsat army officers didn't.

 

[panjandrum]

Hello Morathi, and welcome to WordReference.

It's possible, though I'm only guessing, that this was done so that swords accidentally dropped didn't fall into the sea.

 

[Morathi]

Hello and thank you both for your warm welcome and quick answers.

It does mention that the sword knot was useful "so that, if the sword were dropped in the midst of battle, it could quickly be retrieved". However it doesn´t say anything else about the sea or anything related to it, that´s why I thought "popular at sea" would be a fixed expression, although maxiogee´s explanation does make sense. I guess I´ll stick to that meaning.

Thanks a lot.