An awkward person. In ancient times the "jollies," or Royal Marines, were the butts of the sailors, from their ignorance of seamanship. "Tell that to the marines, the blue jackets wont believe it!" was a common rejoinder to a "stiff yarn." A horse marine (an impossibility) was used to denote one more awkward even than an ordinary "jolly." Nowadays the marines are deservedly appreciated as one of the finest regiments in the service.