who had ever crossed his legs under mahogany.

[enkidu68]

Hi folks, this is cited from Redburn by Hermann Melville (1849)
Q: Does he mean by this “every sailor sitting on a crew table feels himself very degraded or something like that?

And I further admonished my friend concerning our crew, particularly of the diabolical Jackson, and warned him to be cautious and wary. I told him, that unless he was somewhat accustomed to the rigging, and could furl a royal in a squall, he would be sure to subject himself to a sort of treatment from the sailors, in the last degree ignominious to any mortal who had ever crossed his legs under mahogany.

 

[Loob]

You've asked about the bold phrase before, enkidu:
who had ever crossed his legs under mahogany.

 

[S1m0n]

legs under mahogany means sitting at a desk, ie, an office worker. The skilled seamen will make novice landsmen suffer.

 

[enkidu68]

even though I checked, I failed to find it.
Thank you and sorry at the same time)

 

[Loob]

 

[lingobingo]

A nice example from the OED, demonstrating that it’s a reference to luxury:

1926 Travel, Nov. 16/1 — It is an amusing and novel experience to sit with one's knees under mahogany and sip French wine from a glass of Mauzé crystal.