Around 1500, sailors began using frayed ends of mooring ropes, known as 'hempen hawsers,' as makeshift toilet alternatives while at sea. This practice highlighted the resourcefulness of mariners in adapting to the challenges of life aboard ships during long voyages. It also reflects the broader cultural and practical aspects of maritime life in the Age of Exploration.

The sailors' use of rope ends for wiping inspired a unique genre of nautical ballads and sea poetry that vividly depicted the harsh realities of maritime life. Poets like John Masefield in 'Sea-Fever' captured the grit and romance of seafaring, intertwining the physicality of sailors' lives with their emotional and existential struggles.