powder monkey

(formerly) a boy employed on warships to carry gunpowder from the magazine to the guns.

Origin of powder monkey

First recorded in 1675–85

If all the rest of the men were killed wouldn't the powder-monkey get a chance to fire the gun?

Si Klegg, Book 5 (of 6) |John McElroy
But his station in action was on the forecastle, where he was powder-monkey for the two forward guns.

Yankee Ships and Yankee Sailors: Tales of 1812 |James Barnes
"Sunday (Dec. 25, 1812) came, and it brought with it a stiff breeze," so runs the powder-monkey's tale.

The Naval History of the United States |Willis J. Abbot.
Then you must be a powder-monkey with me; you can hand powder up, if you can do nothing else.

The King's Own |Captain Frederick Marryat

This being thus, we therefore clearly see The Powder-Monkey heads some pedigree.

A Phenomenal Fauna |Carolyn Wells

powder monkey

(formerly) a boy who carried powder from the magazine to the guns on warships