What does the term "show a leg" refer to?

The term "show a leg" refers specifically to reveille. This phrase has historical roots in naval tradition, where it was used as a way for sailors to indicate that they were awake and ready to get out of their hammocks at the start of the day. When called on deck, a sailor would "show a leg" by revealing a leg outside their hammock, signaling that they were conscious and prepared to participate in the day's duties.

In the context of naval operations, reveille is a crucial part of the daily routine, marking the beginning of the day and ensuring that all personnel are alerted to the start of their obligations. This tradition emphasizes readiness and discipline within the ranks, aligning with the military's overall structure.

The other options are related to different practices within naval life: setting the watch pertains to ensuring that watchstanding duties are properly assigned; anchor watch involves keeping a lookout when the ship is anchored; and man overboard drill is a safety procedure to retrieve personnel who have fallen overboard. Each term has its significance, but they do not pertain to the same concept of signaling readiness as "show a leg" does with reveille.