Phrase

[tedley]

Two six

[mr. piper]

heave! you say it to coordinate pulling on a rope in the navy

[Skids]

The phrase Two-Six-Heave comes from the cannon crews on old wooden galleons.  The cannon when fired recoiled backward into the ship and needed to be put back into its firing position before commencement of further firing.  This was achieved by two people pulling on rope, one on either side of the cannon, which, by way of pulleys, pulled the cannon back into its firing position.  Each member of the six man crew was numbered to make order giving easier by the crew's chief.  The men pulling on the ropes were numbered 2 and 6.  When the chief shouted 'Two-Six-Heave' he was telling members 2 and 6 of the crew to pull on the ropes at the same time.