The Expression, "Out Island"

[Foswick]

I was talking to someone the other day (also from this region - the San Juan / Gulf Islands region), and we were talking about plans for the summer. I said, "I think we'll be out island for most of July." That is a very normal expression, for me in my idiolect. He replied, "What island?"And, I said, "I don't know ... just out island."

This started the discussion about "out island". He swore he had never heard that expression before. I was incredulous ... of course he had. It is a super common expression.

Then I got paying attention to other people and I don't hear anyone else using that expression - and certainly not around here.

So I am curious, is this an expression that is a normal part of anyone's speech. Any idea where it comes from?

The closest usage I could find is the southeast expression "down island" and like on Martha's Vineyard's "up island" and "down island".

 

[kappykaplan]

I found this using a search engine: "The “out islands” is a term generally used in the Bahamas for describing the multitude of islands east and southeast of Great Exuma that used to be off the beaten path for most cruisers, but are now excellent destinations for those venturing beyond the comforts and safety of Georgetown."

I've not used the terminology before, but do understand your context - could be from the many years I spent on exchange in UK and having to learn a different language.

 

[jssailem]

I understand your context but it is not a common phrase I use.

 

[dlochner]

It

I found this using a search engine: "The “out islands” is a term generally used in the Bahamas for describing the multitude of islands east and southeast of Great Exuma that used to be off the beaten path for most cruisers, but are now excellent destinations for those venturing beyond the comforts and safety of Georgetown."

I've not used the terminology before, but do understand your context - could be from the many years I spent on exchange in UK and having to learn a different language.

@kappykaplan is correct although the term is a little more wide spread to any island group. The out islands are those islands that are not the main island or most populated island. The term is a bit archaic now and I seldom hear it used.

 

[Foswick]

Mystery solved. I talked to my cousin. She said she doesn't use it but she remembers grandpa telling stories about carrying people and cargo "out island" (off the west coast of Ireland). I vaguely remember those stories - I was still pretty young when he died. But, that makes sense.

In any case, it's a good expression - super useful around here.

 

[LLoyd B]

Having watched too many cops and robbers escape shows lately the specific island name would have 1st come to mind.

 

[Tedd]

I live on Vancouver Island and I have no memory of encountering the phrase "out island" before reading your post. But I'm not from here. I grew up "down east" (southern Ontario) and only came to the west coast as an adult.

 

[capta]

In my experience, as kappykaplan said, the term in the US is in reference to the Bahamian out islands.
The term was used by Charley Morgan for his series of comfortable, shallow draft cruising boats designed to sail the Bahamian "out islands". They aren't the best performing boats, and in my opinion not good offshore boats, but with their shallow draft and forgiving nature, they are a great boats for sailing where they were designed to sail.

 

[pgandw]

When I lived in the Bahamas in the 1960s, all the islands except New Providence (contains Nassau) and Grand Bahama (contains Freeport) were considered the "Out Islands." Ferry service between the islands on the "mail boats" was primarily hub-and-spoke - everything got routed through Nassau.

Each of the Out Island groups had some differences in culture. The northern groups - Abacos, Berry Islands, Bimini, Andros, Eleuthera tended to be more of a British culture because they were settled from Bermuda (Eleuthera), pirates, American Revolution, US Civil War, and Prohibition. The southern Out Islands - Exumas, Long Island, Crooked Island, Acklins Island, etc - were generally settled by runaway slaves, either from the US or from Haiti and Cuba.

Fred W

 

[Driver50x]

When I lived in the Bahamas in the 1960s, all the islands except New Providence (contains Nassau) and Grand Bahama (contains Freeport) were considered the "Out Islands." Ferry service between the islands on the "mail boats" was primarily hub-and-spoke - everything got routed through Nassau.

Each of the Out Island groups had some differences in culture. The northern groups - Abacos, Berry Islands, Bimini, Andros, Eleuthera tended to be more of a British culture because they were settled from Bermuda (Eleuthera), pirates, American Revolution, US Civil War, and Prohibition. The southern Out Islands - Exumas, Long Island, Crooked Island, Acklins Island, etc - were generally settled by runaway slaves, either from the US or from Haiti and Cuba.

Fred W

10-20 years ago I flew airliners to many of those islands, and that is exactly how we referred to them. Other than Nassau and Freeport, none of the “out islands” have operating control towers or instrument approaches.