[throwanem]

Okay, but in entire fairness, I did say "any empire would give". If she wasn't actually commissioned under the name as the Merriam-Webster blog suggests, I believe this qualifies as having successfully weaseled out.

Certainly it makes a lot more sense as a nickname! Those have vastly broader range than commissioned names typically do. In any case, I appreciate your effort in finding a more reliable reference, especially one that adds such color and provenance to a swear I grew up around and have favored since earliest childhood.

[defrost]

No drama, I was curious myself and looked up the ship in question.

It was a close call for the RRS Sir David Attenborough although at least the world now has the ALR Boaty McBoatface.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boaty_McBoatface