Powder monkey aboard USS New Hampshire, 1864. When sailing was at its peak, young boys tagged along with the sailors to the wars. These boys were known as powder monkeys. Even though there is no proper evidence to back this fact up, some believe that the "monkey" in powder monkey was taken from the phrase "monkeying around." Their task was to carry out the baggage of gunpowder from one place to another. They basically helped to fill the cannons with gunpowder for the warriors on the sailing ship.