island0meadow
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- Posted: Sun, 23 Sep 2012 18:34:22 +0000
berry 65
Ahoy thar matey! Grab your parrot and lets get on our ships and weigh anchor! It's time to head out to sea, and leave those scurvy landlubber folks behind, savvy? I'll be tha captain to ye scurvy group of scalawags! If ye plan on being a bilge rat on this journey then ye can walk the plank and rot in davy jones locker! Shiver me timbers, I suppose thats a bit harsh. Ill make ye a deckhand and ye can scrub the poop deck, and polish my cutlass then! Or perhaps I'll have ye screw on my pegleg and my hook every mornin! Yo ho ho! That would be a sight to see! Anyway, ye are sure to have fun in my band of scalawags! We will be sailin the seven seas on my ship, the jolly roger, searchin for loot, doubloons, and other booty! Thar is sur eto be plenty of rum and grog and ye may even get yerself a wench now and again! So join me, ye scurvy dogs!
I be the original poster of this here invitation! Just so ye landlubbers know! I'm the original Captain of this particular quest on the seven seas!
Now let's sing them thar landlubbers tha song of our people. This sea shanty shall never be forgotten!
Fifteen men on a dead cack-handed deck ape's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight
With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight
And we heaved 'em over and out of sight,
With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-ye-well
And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell
Ten fathoms deep on the road to Davy Jones's locker,
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!Fifteen men on a dead cack-handed deck ape's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight
With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight
And we heaved 'em over and out of sight,
With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-ye-well
And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell
Ten fathoms deep on the road to Davy Jones's locker,Fifteen men on a dead cack-handed deck ape's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight
With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight
And we heaved 'em over and out of sight,
With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-ye-well
And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell
Ten fathoms deep on the road to Davy Jones's locker,
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!
Here be a guide fer them scurvy landlubbers, savvy? Here are a few phrases ye scalawags can use to boost yer pirate bounty!
Shiver me timbers! Yar! Grab me booty! Walk tha' plank! Batten down tha hatches. Swab tha deck! Get Buried treasure! You are a PIRATE! Where's me parrot? Ye scallywags!Percack-handed deck apeent! All hands on ME! Arrr matey! Yo ho and Avast!Ahoy, Aye, Booty, Black Spot, Jolly Roger, Landlubber, Matey
Parley, Pirate, Shiver me timbers, Walk the plank, Parrot, Helm, Bow
pirate wench ahoy matey jolly roger davy jones booty shiver me timbers scurvy
Also in case ye scurvy dogs need ye selves a guide so ye know what tha pirates like me be talking about here ya go!
Aaaarrrrgggghhhh! - exhortation of discontent or disgust
Ahoy! - Hello!
Ahoy, Matey - Hello, my friend!
Ahoy, me Hearties! - the same as saying "Hello, my friends!"
All hand hoay! - comparable to all hands on deck
Avast ye - avast ye! and check this out or pay attention
Aye - yes
Batten down the hatches - put everything away on the ship and tie everything down because a storm is brewing
Bilge-sucking - insult
Blimey! - exhortation of surprise
Blow me down! - expression of shock of disbelief akin to "Holy Crap!"
Blow the cack-handed deck ape down - command to kill someone
Booty - treasure
Buccaneer - a pirate
Bucko - a buccaneer
Cat O'Nine Tails - a whip with nine strands
Corsair - pirates in the Mediterranean Sea
Crow's nest - small platform atop the mast where the lookout stands
Cutlass - short heavy curved bladed sword used by pirates
Davy Jones' Locker - fabled, mythical place at the bottom of the ocean where the evil spirit of Davy Jones brings sailor and pirates to die
Dead men tell no tales - phrase indicating to leave no survivors
Doubloons - other coins or found in pirate hoards and stashes
Feed the fish - will soon die
Hang 'im from the yardarm - punishment of those captured in battle
Head - the pirate ship's toilet
Heave Ho - give it some muscle and push it
Hempen Halter - a noose for hanging
Hornswaggle - to defraud or cheat out of money or belongings
Jacob's Ladder - the rope ladder one uses to climb aboard a sloop
Jolly Roger - pirate's flag including white skull and crossbones over a black field
Keelhaul - punishment in which a person where dragged underneath the pirate ship from side to side and was lacerated by the barnacles on the vessel
Lad, lass, lassie - a younger person
Landlubber - big, slow clumsy person who doesn't know how to sail
Letters of Marque - letters issue from governments during wartime to privateers endorsing the piracy of another vessel
Man-O-War - pirate's ship outfitted for battle
Me - my
Mizzen - third mast from the bow of the ship on ships that have three or more masts
Old Salt - an experienced sailor
Pieces of eight - coins or found in pirate stashes
Pillage - rob, sack or plunder
Poop deck - the part of the ship farthest to the back, which is usually above the captain's quarters. This is not the bathroom.
Privateer - government-sponsored pirates
Rum - pirate's traditional alcoholic beverage
Run a shot across the bow - warning shot to another vessel's captain
Savvy? - do ye understand and do ye agree?
Scallywag - mild insult akin to rapscallion or rogue
Scurvy dog - the pirate is talking directly to ye with mild insult
Scuttle - to sink a ship
Seadog - old pirate or sailor
Shark bait - will soon join Davy Jones' Locker
Shipshape - cleaned up and under control
Shiver me timbers! - comparable to "Holy Crap!"
Son of a Biscuit Eater - insult directed towards someone ye don't like
Thar she blows! - Whale sighting
Three sheets to the wind - someone who is very drunk. One sheet is mildly three sheets to the wind and four sheets is passed out.
Walk the plank - punishment in which person walks off a board jutting over the side of the ship while at sea. The consequence is drowning and a visit to Davy Jones' Locker.
Weigh anchor and hoist the mizzen! - pull up the anchor and the sail and let's get going
Ye - you
Yo Ho Ho - cheerful exhortation to demand attention
If ye be lookin fer more words these should do ya tha trick!
Prepare to be boarded!
Swab My Deck, Wench.
I'll swab your poop deck.
Honk if ye like my booty.
Surrrrrender the booty!
Save a ship. Ride a pirate.
Me buried booty is in me pocket.
Ahoy Boys!
Vacation equals Arrrrrr N Arrrrrr
Avast! Pull Me Mast!
Shut Ye Pie Hole, I'm Diving in Ye Bung Hole
Rubbers are for land lubbers
I've hit the Mother-load! (and the daughter-load)
Wench Press
Ye want to see me Cockswain?
Walk the plank, wench, and then ride it.
Pirates do it harrrrrder!
Here are some other pirate sayings:
Touch my loot, feel my boot.
Touch me parrot, me bite your carrot.
Save thee Bilge rats!
Let's drink grog before the fog.
Shiver me timbers! Me wooden leg has termites.
Pirate Quotes
I'm a pirate. I'm my own captain.
A friend can betray you, but an enemy will always stay the same.
Land was created to provide a place for boats to visit.
If ye can't trust a pirate, ye damn well can't trust a merchant either.
A pirate is for life, not just for Christmas.
Take what ye can, give nothing back.
If ye thinks he be ready to sail a beauty, ye better be willin' to sink with her.
There comes a time in most men's lives where they feel the need to raise the Black Flag.
It is when pirates count their booty that they become mere thieves.
The existence of the sea means the existence of pirates.
Even pirates, before they attack another ship, hoist a black flag.
The average cack-handed deck ape will bristle if ye say his father was dishonest, but he will brag a little if he discovers that his great-grandfather was a pirate.
I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, A poet, a pawn and a king; I've been up and down and over and out, And I know one thing; Each time I find myself flat on my face, I pick myself up and get back in the race.
Dead men don't tell tales.
See ye in Davie Jones' Locker.
Ye can swab the poop deck, but ye can't poop on the swab deck.
In an honest service thar is thin commons, low wages, and hard labor; in this, plenty and satiety, pleasure and ease, liberty and power; and who would not balance creditor on this side, when all the hazard that is run for it, at worst, is only a sour look or two at choking. No, a merry life and a short one, shall be my motto.
Yes, I do heartily repent. I repent I had not done more mischief; and that we did not cut the throats of them that took us, and I am extremely sorry that ye aren't hanged as well as we
ome, don't be in a fright, but put on your clothes, and I'll let ye into a secret. You must know that I am Captain of this ship now, and this is my cabin, therefore ye must walk out. I am bound to Madagascar, with a design of making my own fortune, and that of all the brave fellows joined with me...if ye have a mind to make one of us, we will receive you, and if you'll turn sober, and mind your business, perhaps in time I may make ye one of my Lieutenants, if not, here's a ship alongside and ye shall be set ashore
Hark ye, ye Cocklyn and la Bouche, I find by strengthening you, I have put a rod into your hands to whip myself, but I am still able to deal with ye both; but since we met in love, let us part in love, for I find that three of a trade can never agree
Arrr, here be some nautical and piratical type words and their meanings. P-)
Ahoy - call to attract attention, something akin to 'Hello, there!'
Anchor - a heavy weight, often shaped with hooked ends, lowered into the water to keep a ship in one place.
Avast - nautical term meaning avast ye! what ye are doing, derived/corrupted from 'hold fast'.
Ballast - stones or other heavy items placed in a ship's bottom to help it maintain a stable upright position.
Becalmed - the state of a sailing ship when it cannot move because thar is no wind.
Belay - to tie or secure a rope end.
Bilge - the lowest part of the ship, bilge water is the foul, brackish sea water that would collect from seepage in this area
Black Jack - a leather tankard, made stiff with a coating of tar, used by dockside pubs and taverns to serve wine and beer.
Bowsprit - a long spar that projected from the ship's prow.
Buccaneer - early entrepreneurs who dried the meat from wild cattle and hogs on the island of Hispañola in the early 1600's to sell to ships returning to Europe (primarily Spain). A pirate or unscrupulous adventurer.
Capstan - a mechanism for raising and anchor, on larger ships this would often be a large ratcheted pulley with several spoke that a number of crewmen turned to wind the anchor cable up, raising the anchor a little at a time
Careen - cleaning a ship's hull of barnacles, seaweed and marine worms by beaching it and leaning it over to one side.
Corsair - maybe derived from the island name Corsica, pirate or pirate ship, esp. of Barbary (N. Africa in olden times), attacking ships of European countries; also, a French privateer, or Knights of Malta fighting the Barbary pirates. Other origins may be the Latin word corsus meaning plunder.
Cutlass - a short, curved, thick sword, the preferred weapon of many buccaneers, possibly a carry over weapon from the days of making boucan and probably more suited to the slashing melee amidst the rigging when boarding another ship than a long sword
Doubloon - gold coin minted by Spain or Spanish colonies, worth about seven weeks pay for an average sailor.
Flibustier or Filibuster - French term for pirates during the golden age (approximately the same time the term buccaneer came into wide usage)
Flogging - punishment in which a cack-handed deck ape was whipped on his naked back, often used enforce discipline and punish minor or major infractions by ordinary sailers
Freebooter - another term for a pirate, probably originating from a corruption of the Dutch vrijbuiters (plunderers), combining the words vrij meaning free and buit meaning loot
Gibbet - a wooden frame from which dead pirates were hung, often in a metal cage especially fitted for the pirate, as a warning to any others who would think of taking up a career of piracy
Gunport - a hole, sometimes with an opening shutter, for a cannon to fire through
Handing a sail - rolling a sail up, analogous to shortening a sail
Helm - tiller or wheel used to steer ship
Helmsman - the person who steers the ship
Hold - the cargo area of a ship below the main deck
Jolly Roger - the pirate flag with its skull and cross bones, see my flag page for more details
Letters of Marque - proof that a pirate/privateer is sponsored by a particular government.
Masthead - the top of a mast
Picaroon - term meaning both pirate and slaver.
Piece of Eight - Spanish silver coin, or old Spanish peso, often cut into pieces to make change.
Pirate - derived from the Greek pirate, meaning one who plunders on the sea.
Ponton - an English prison hulk, or converted ship hull, where captured pirates were held.
Privateer - a pirate working for a particular government (often provided with letters of marque to prove this), restricting prey to that of another unfriendly government.
Prize - a captured ship
Quarterdeck - highest deck at the rear of the ship, ship's officers would often stand on the quarterdeck to oversee the ship's operation
Scurvy - a disease resulting from a vitamin C deficiency, characterized by weakness, anemia and spongy gums, although in the sense of 'scurvy dog' it meant low or mean (not angry, but low in quality)
Sea rover - pirate; pirate's ship
Seams - the line where the ship's planks joined, if not sealed properly the ship would leak
Setting a sail - letting the sail down, the opposite of handing
Shorten sail - to reduce the amount of sail hanging from the yards
Sprung seam - a seam that is no longer sealed and is leaking
Tiller - a pole attached to the rudder of a ship, used for steering the ship
Topman - sailor in charge of the topsailsArrr, here be some nautical and piratical type words and their meanings. P-)
Ahoy - call to attract attention, something akin to 'Hello, there!'
Anchor - a heavy weight, often shaped with hooked ends, lowered into the water to keep a ship in one place.
Avast - nautical term meaning avast ye! what ye are doing, derived/corrupted from 'hold fast'.
Ballast - stones or other heavy items placed in a ship's bottom to help it maintain a stable upright position.
Becalmed - the state of a sailing ship when it cannot move because thar is no wind.
Belay - to tie or secure a rope end.
Bilge - the lowest part of the ship, bilge water is the foul, brackish sea water that would collect from seepage in this area
Black Jack - a leather tankard, made stiff with a coating of tar, used by dockside pubs and taverns to serve wine and beer.
Bowsprit - a long spar that projected from the ship's prow.
Buccaneer - early entrepreneurs who dried the meat from wild cattle and hogs on the island of Hispañola in the early 1600's to sell to ships returning to Europe (primarily Spain). A pirate or unscrupulous adventurer.
Capstan - a mechanism for raising and anchor, on larger ships this would often be a large ratcheted pulley with several spoke that a number of crewmen turned to wind the anchor cable up, raising the anchor a little at a time
Careen - cleaning a ship's hull of barnacles, seaweed and marine worms by beaching it and leaning it over to one side.
Corsair - maybe derived from the island name Corsica, pirate or pirate ship, esp. of Barbary (N. Africa in olden times), attacking ships of European countries; also, a French privateer, or Knights of Malta fighting the Barbary pirates. Other origins may be the Latin word corsus meaning plunder.
Cutlass - a short, curved, thick sword, the preferred weapon of many buccaneers, possibly a carry over weapon from the days of making boucan and probably more suited to the slashing melee amidst the rigging when boarding another ship than a long sword
Doubloon - gold coin minted by Spain or Spanish colonies, worth about seven weeks pay for an average sailor.
Flibustier or Filibuster - French term for pirates during the golden age (approximately the same time the term buccaneer came into wide usage)
Flogging - punishment in which a cack-handed deck ape was whipped on his naked back, often used enforce discipline and punish minor or major infractions by ordinary sailers
Freebooter - another term for a pirate, probably originating from a corruption of the Dutch vrijbuiters (plunderers), combining the words vrij meaning free and buit meaning loot
Gibbet - a wooden frame from which dead pirates were hung, often in a metal cage especially fitted for the pirate, as a warning to any others who would think of taking up a career of piracy
Gunport - a hole, sometimes with an opening shutter, for a cannon to fire through
Handing a sail - rolling a sail up, analogous to shortening a sail
Helm - tiller or wheel used to steer ship
Helmsman - the person who steers the ship
Hold - the cargo area of a ship below the main deck
Jolly Roger - the pirate flag with its skull and cross bones, see my flag page for more details
Letters of Marque - proof that a pirate/privateer is sponsored by a particular government.
Masthead - the top of a mast
Picaroon - term meaning both pirate and slaver.
Piece of Eight - Spanish silver coin, or old Spanish peso, often cut into pieces to make change.
Pirate - derived from the Greek pirate, meaning one who plunders on the sea.
Ponton - an English prison hulk, or converted ship hull, where captured pirates were held.
Privateer - a pirate working for a particular government (often provided with letters of marque to prove this), restricting prey to that of another unfriendly government.
Prize - a captured ship
Quarterdeck - highest deck at the rear of the ship, ship's officers would often stand on the quarterdeck to oversee the ship's operation
Scurvy - a disease resulting from a vitamin C deficiency, characterized by weakness, anemia and spongy gums, although in the sense of 'scurvy dog' it meant low or mean (not angry, but low in quality)
Sea rover - pirate; pirate's ship
Seams - the line where the ship's planks joined, if not sealed properly the ship would leak
Setting a sail - letting the sail down, the opposite of handing
Shorten sail - to reduce the amount of sail hanging from the yards
Sprung seam - a seam that is no longer sealed and is leaking
Tiller - a pole attached to the rudder of a ship, used for steering the ship
Topman - sailor in charge of the topsails
Shiver me timbers! Yar! Grab me booty! Walk tha' plank! Batten down tha hatches. Swab tha deck! Get Buried treasure! You are a PIRATE! Where's me parrot? Ye scallywags! Percack-handed deck apeent! All hands on ME! Arrr matey! Yo ho and Avast! Lass! Wench! Ahoy! Beauty! Belay! Bounty! Bilge rat! Buccaneer! Cap'n! Davy Jones' Locker! Dubloons. Gangway! Hearties! Landlubber! Lily-livered! Seven seas. Plunderin' and Sailin'! Jolly Roger.
Fifteen men on a dead cack-handed deck ape's chest, Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum, Drink and the devil had done for the rest, Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum. We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight, With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight, And we heaved 'em over and out of sight, With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-ye-well, And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell, Ten fathoms deep on the road to Davy Jones's locker, Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum! Scurvy dog! Pirate life on a ship. Avast ye ayeterday!, gold dubloon my bonny booty briny deep ocean, arrgh shiver me timbers yar walk the plank, hoist the jolly rogers, Arrr
Shiver me timbers! Yar! Grab me booty! Walk tha' plank! Batten down tha hatches. Swab tha deck! Get Buried treasure! You are a PIRATE! Where's me parrot? Ye scallywags!Percack-handed deck apeent! All hands on ME! Arrr matey! Yo ho and Avast!Ahoy, Aye, Booty, Black Spot, Jolly Roger, Landlubber, Matey, Parley, Pirate, Shiver me timbers, Walk the plank, Parrot, Helm, Bow, pirate wench ahoy matey jolly roger davy jones booty shiver me timbers scurvy, Aaaarrrrgggghhhh! - exhortation of discontent or disgust, Ahoy! - Hello! Ahoy, Matey - Hello, my friend! Ahoy, ye Hearties! - the same as saying "Hello, my friends!" All hand hoay! - comparable to all hands on deck Avast ye - avast ye! and check this out or pay attention
Aye - aye Batten down the hatches - put everything away on the ship and tie everything down because a storm is brewing Bilge-sucking - insult Blimey! - exhortation of surprise Blow me down! - expression of shock of disbelief akin to "Holy Crap!" Blow the cack-handed deck ape down - command to kill someone Booty - booty Buccaneer - a pirate Bucko - a buccaneer
Cat O'Nine Tails - a whip with nine strands Corsair - pirates in the Mediterranean Sea
Crow's nest - small platform atop the mast where the lookout stands Cutlass - short heavy curved bladed sword used by pirates Davy Jones' Locker - fabled, mythical place at the bottom of the ocean where the evil spirit of Davy Jones brings sailor and pirates to die Dead men tell no tales - phrase indicating to leave no survivors Doubloons - other coins or found in pirate hoards and stashes Feed the fish - will soon die Hang 'im from the yardarm - punishment of those captured in battle Head - the pirate ship's toilet Heave Ho - give it some muscle and push it
Hempen Halter - a noose for hanging Hornswaggle - to defraud or cheat out of money or belongings Jacob's Ladder - the rope ladder one uses to climb aboard a sloop Jolly Roger - pirate's flag including white skull and crossbones over a black field Keelhaul - punishment in which a person where dragged underneath the pirate ship from side to side and was lacerated by the barnacles on the vessel Lad, lass, lassie - a younger person Landlubber - big, slow clumsy person who doesn't know how to sail Letters of Marque - letters issue from governments during wartime to privateers endorsing the piracy of another vessel Man-O-War - pirate's ship outfitted for battle Me - my Mizzen - third mast from the bow of the ship on ships that have three or more masts Old Salt - an experienced sailor Pieces of eight - coins or found in pirate stashes
Pillage - rob, sack or plunder Poop deck - the part of the ship farthest to the back, which is usually above the captain's quarters. This is not the bathroom. Privateer - government-sponsored pirates Rum - pirate's traditional alcoholic beverage Run a shot across the bow - warning shot to another vessel's captain Savvy? - do ye understand and do ye agree?
Scallywag - mild insult akin to rapscallion or rogue Scurvy dog - the pirate is talking directly to ye with mild insult Scuttle - to sink a ship Seadog - old pirate or sailor Shark bait - will soon join Davy Jones' Locker Shipshape - cleaned up and under control Shiver me timbers! - comparable to "Holy Crap!" Son of a Biscuit Eater - insult directed towards someone ye don't like
Thar she blows! - Whale sighting Three sheets to the wind - someone who is very drunk. One sheet is mildly three sheets to the wind and four sheets is passed out. Walk the plank - punishment in which person walks off a board jutting over the side of the ship while at sea. The consequence is drowning and a visit to Davy Jones' Locker. Weigh anchor and hoist the mizzen! - pull up the anchor and the sail and let's get going Ye - ye Yo Ho Ho - cheerful exhortation to demand attention Ye've Landlubber Arrrg! Avast Ye Scurvy Parrot Sea Ahoy Ye Matey Shiver me timbers seven seas poop deck walk the plank ships parrot pegleg hook cannon Davy Jones' Locker poop deck doubloons booty loot booty buccaneer
Shiver me timbers! Yar! Grab me booty! Walk tha' plank! Batten down tha hatches. Swab tha deck! Get Buried treasure! You are a PIRATE! Where's me parrot? Ye scallywags!Percack-handed deck apeent! All hands on ME! Arrr matey! Yo ho and Avast!
Ye've
Landlubber
Arrrg!
Avast Ye
Scurvy
Parrot
Sea
Ahoy
Ye
Matey
Shiver me timbers
seven seas
poop deck
walk the plank
ships
parrot
pegleg
hook
cannon
Davy Jones' Locker
poop deck
doubloons
booty
loot
treasure
buccaneer
Lol!
Ye've
Landlubber
Arrrg!
Avast Ye
Scurvy
Parrot
Sea
Ahoy
Ye
Matey
Shiver me timbers
seven seas
poop deck
walk the plank
ships
parrot
pegleg
hook
cannon
Davy Jones' Locker
poop deck
doubloons
booty
loot
treasure
buccaneer
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
Percack-handed deck apeent?ahoy
landlubber
ye
lass
rum
booty
ahoy
davy jone's locker
scurvy
jolly roger
matey
yo ho ho
walk the plank
shiver me timbers
deck
parrot
scallywags
doubloons
swab the deck
avast
grog
arr
argh
sails
course
We pillage, we plunder, we rifle and loot
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
Ye've
Landlubber
Arrrg!
Avast Ye
Scurvy
Parrot
Sea
Ahoy
Ye
Matey
Shiver me timbers
seven seas
poop deck
walk the plank
ships
parrot
pegleg
hook
cannon
Davy Jones' Locker
poop deck
doubloons
booty
loot
treasure
buccaneer
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
Percack-handed deck apeent?ahoy
landlubber
ye
lass
rum
booty
ahoy
davy jone's locker
scurvy
jolly roger
matey
yo ho ho
walk the plank
shiver me timbers
deck
parrot
scallywags
doubloons
swab the deck
avast
grog
arr
argh
sails
course
Shiver me timbers! Yar! Grab me booty! Walk tha' plank! Batten down tha hatches. Swab tha deck! Get Buried treasure! You are a PIRATE! Where's me parrot? Ye scallywags!Percack-handed deck apeent! All hands on ME! Arrr matey! Yo ho and Avast!Ahoy, Aye, Booty, Black Spot, Jolly Roger, Landlubber, Matey
Parley, Pirate, Shiver me timbers, Walk the plank, Parrot, Helm, Bow
pirate wench ahoy matey jolly roger davy jones booty shiver me timbers scurvy
Aaaarrrrgggghhhh! - exhortation of discontent or disgust
Ahoy! - Hello!
Ahoy, Matey - Hello, my friend!
Ahoy, ye Hearties! - the same as saying "Hello, my friends!"
All hand hoay! - comparable to all hands on deck
Avast ye - avast ye! and check this out or pay attention
Aye - yes
Batten down the hatches - put everything away on the ship and tie everything down because a storm is brewing
Bilge-sucking - insult
Blimey! - exhortation of surprise
Blow me down! - expression of shock of disbelief akin to "Holy Crap!"
Blow the cack-handed deck ape down - command to kill someone
Booty - treasure
Buccaneer - a pirate
Bucko - a buccaneer
Cat O'Nine Tails - a whip with nine strands
Corsair - pirates in the Mediterranean Sea
Crow's nest - small platform atop the mast where the lookout stands
Cutlass - short heavy curved bladed sword used by pirates
Davy Jones' Locker - fabled, mythical place at the bottom of the ocean where the evil spirit of Davy Jones brings sailor and pirates to die
Dead men tell no tales - phrase indicating to leave no survivors
Doubloons - other coins or found in pirate hoards and stashes
Feed the fish - will soon die
Hang 'im from the yardarm - punishment of those captured in battle
Head - the pirate ship's toilet
Heave Ho - give it some muscle and push it
Hempen Halter - a noose for hanging
Hornswaggle - to defraud or cheat out of money or belongings
Jacob's Ladder - the rope ladder one uses to climb aboard a sloop
Jolly Roger - pirate's flag including white skull and crossbones over a black field
Keelhaul - punishment in which a person where dragged underneath the pirate ship from side to side and was lacerated by the barnacles on the vessel
Lad, lass, lassie - a younger person
Landlubber - big, slow clumsy person who doesn't know how to sail
Letters of Marque - letters issue from governments during wartime to privateers endorsing the piracy of another vessel
Man-O-War - pirate's ship outfitted for battle
Me - my
Mizzen - third mast from the bow of the ship on ships that have three or more masts
Old Salt - an experienced sailor
Pieces of eight - coins or found in pirate stashes
Pillage - rob, sack or plunder
Poop deck - the part of the ship farthest to the back, which is usually above the captain's quarters. This is not the bathroom.
Privateer - government-sponsored pirates
Rum - pirate's traditional alcoholic beverage
Run a shot across the bow - warning shot to another vessel's captain
Savvy? - do ye understand and do ye agree?
Scallywag - mild insult akin to rapscallion or rogue
Scurvy dog - the pirate is talking directly to ye with mild insult
Scuttle - to sink a ship
Seadog - old pirate or sailor
Shark bait - will soon join Davy Jones' Locker
Shipshape - cleaned up and under control
Shiver me timbers! - comparable to "Holy Crap!"
Son of a Biscuit Eater - insult directed towards someone ye don't like
Thar she blows! - Whale sighting
Three sheets to the wind - someone who is very drunk. One sheet is mildly three sheets to the wind and four sheets is passed out.
Walk the plank - punishment in which person walks off a board jutting over the side of the ship while at sea. The consequence is drowning and a visit to Davy Jones' Locker.
Weigh anchor and hoist the mizzen! - pull up the anchor and the sail and let's get going
Ye - you
Yo Ho Ho - cheerful exhortation to demand attention
Ye've
Landlubber
Arrrg!
Avast Ye
Scurvy
Parrot
Sea
Ahoy
Ye
Matey
Shiver me timbers
seven seas
poop deck
walk the plank
ships
parrot
pegleg
hook
cannon
Davy Jones' Locker
poop deck
doubloons
booty
loot booty buccaneer
A
Aft – The back of the ship.
Ahoy! – ‘Hello’
Arr – Yes/That’s great/I agree
Aye – ‘Yes, definitely.’
Aye Aye – ‘Of course, I’ll do that now.’
B
Barbary Coast – Mediterranean coast off of North Africa.
Be – Use instead of ‘am’, ‘are’ or ‘is’.
Bilboes – Leg irons attached to the deck of a ship.
Bilge – The dirtiest, smelliest and lowest part of a ship.
Bilge rat – A rat that lives in the dirtiest, smelliest and lowest part of a ship. This is not a nice name to call somebody.
Black Spotted – A person/animal that has had a curse put on them.
Blimey – ‘Wow.’
Booty – Riches that have usually been stolen.
Bounty – A reward, usually paid by the Government for the capture of a criminal.
Buccanneer – Pirates, usually from Hispaniola, who attacked Spanish ships in the Caribbean.
Bucko – Friend
C
Careen – To clean the hull of a ship.
Cat’o’nine tails – A whip made up of nine knotted ropes and used as punishment.
Convoy – A group of ships traveling together.
Corsair – Pirates in the Mediterranean.
Crow’s Nest – A lookout point at the top of the highest mast of a ship.
Cutlass – A curved sword, often used by sailors.
D
Davy Jones Locker – The bottom of the ocean.
Deck – The highest floor on a ship.
Deckhand – A person working on a ship, sometimes shortened to ‘hand’.
Dubloon – An old Spainish gold coin.
F
Fair Winds – ‘Good Luck.’
Flog – To whip.
Fore – Short for ‘forward’.
G
Galleon – A large, squarish ship used in war or to carry cargo.
Gangway – ‘Clear a path.’
Grog – Rum mixed with water or any kind of alcohol.
Grub – Food
H
Hands – Crewmen.
Haven – A safe place.
Heave to – To change the direction of the ship so it is facing forwards into the wind.
Hold – The space in a ship where cargo or prisoners were kept.
Hornpipe – A dance or a single reeded musical instrument.
Hornswaggle – To cheat.
Hornswaggler – A person who cheats.
Hulk – The old, dismantled body of a ship, sometimes used as prisons.
Hull – The body of a ship, not including the masts and rigging.
J
Jack Tar – Sailor
Jolly Roger – The pirate flag - a white skull and crossbones on a black background.
K
Keel – The main framework of a ship that runs from the front to the back at the bottom of the ship.
Keelhaul – To pull somebody under the keel of a ship. Done by using ropes and often as a form of punishment.
L
Lad – Young man.
Land ahoy! – ‘I see land.’
Land lubber or lubber – A person who likes being on land, often used as an insult.
Lass – Young woman.
Leg Irons – Wide rings of metal that were attached to each other and fastened around prisoner’s ankles.
Loot – Gold and riches usually stolen.
Lubber or land lubber – A person who likes being on land, often used as an insult.
M
Marooned – Left alone, usually on a deserted island.
Mast – The upright pole on a ship that the sails and ropes are attached to.
Mate or Matey – Friend
Me – Used instead of ‘my’.
Me beauty – How ye would address a pretty lady or something important to you.
Me hearties – Friends
Merchant Ship – A ship carrying cargo to be sold.
Mutiny – When a ship’s crew refuse to follow the captain’s orders.
N
New World - America
P
Peg leg – An artificial leg, usually wooden.
Pieces of Eight – An old Spanish silver coin.
Pirate – A ‘robber of the sea’.
Plunder – To steal.
Poop deck – The floor that is also the roof of a cabin built on the upper deck.
Poop cabin – A room built on the top deck of a ship, often the Captain’s.
Port – The left side when facing the ship’s pointy end, also a strong alcoholic drink, and the area of land next to where ships are left when the pirates go ashore.
Privateer – English, French or Dutch sailors allowed by their Government to attack enemy ships.
Prow – The pointy end of a ship.
Q
Quartermaster – The sailor second-in-charge to the Captain.
R
Rigging – The ropes, mast and sails on a ship.
S
Salt or Old Salt – Somebody who has been a sailor for a long time.
Sea dog – Somebody who has been a sailor for a long time.
Scurvy – A disease many sailors got because they didn’t eat enough vitamin C.
Scuttle – To make a hole in a ship’s hull or to sink the ship.
Shanty – A seafaring song.
Shipshape – To be neat and tidy.
Shiver me timbers – ‘What a surprise.’
Sink me – ‘What a surprise.’
Smartly – Quickly
Starboard – The right side of the ship (if ye are facing the pointed end).
Swab – To clean something or a name for somebody ye don’t like very much.
Swag – Gold and riches.
T
To be three sheets to the wind – To have three sheets to the wind too much alcohol.
Titivate – To clean up and make neat.
W
Walk the plank – To be forced to walk along and off the end of a plank that has been placed over the side of a ship.
Weevil – A kind of beetle that can eat your food before ye do.
Weigh anchor – To lift the anchor and be ready to sail.
Y
Ye – Used instead of ‘you’.
Yer – Used instead of ‘your’.
Addled
Mad, insane, or just stupid. An "addlepate" is a fool.
Aft Short for "after." Toward the rear of the ship.
Ahoy Hello!
Avast! Hey! Could also be used as "Stop that!" or "Who goes there?"
Begad! By God!
Belay Avast Ye! that. "Belay that talk!" would mean "Shut up!"
Bilge! Nonsense, or foolish talk. The bilges of a ship are the lowest parts, inside the hull along the keel. They fill with stinking bilgewater—or just "bilge."
Bilge-sucking A very uncomplimentary adjective.
Black Spot
To "place the Black Spot" on another pirate is to sentence him to death, to warn him he is marked for death, or sometimes just to accuse him of a serious crime before other pirates.
Blaggard Blackguard. An insult.
Blimey! An exclamation of surprise.
Booty Loot.
Bosun Boatswain, a petty officer.
Bucko Familiar term. "Me bucko" = "my friend."
Cap'n Short for "captain."
Cat o'nine tails A whip with many lashes, used for flogging. "A taste of the cat" might refer to a full flogging, or just a single blow to "smarten up" a recalcitrant hand.
Chantey A sailor's work song. Also spelled "shantey" or "shanty."
Corsair A more romantic term for pirate. But still a pirate.
Davy Jones' locker The bottom of the sea.
Deadlights Eyes. "Use yer deadlights, matey!"
Dead men tell no tales Standard pirate excuse for leaving no survivors.
Dog A mild insult, perhaps even a friendly one.
Doubloon A Spanish gold coin. At different times, it was worth either 4 or 16 silver pesos, or "pieces of eight."
Fair winds!
Goodbye, good luck!
Feed the fish What ye do when ye are thrown into the sea, dead or alive.
Gangway! "Get out of my way!"
Godspeed! Goodbye, good luck!
Grub Food.
Fore, or forrard Toward the front end of the ship.
Flogging Punishment by caning, or by whipping with the cat.
Hands The crew of a ship; sailors.
Handsomely Quickly. "Handsomely now, men!" = "Hurry up!"
Jack Ketch The hangman. To dance with Jack Ketch is to hang.
Jollyboat
A small but happy craft, perhaps even one which is a little dinghy.
Jolly Roger The pirates' skull-and-crossbones flag. It was an invitation to surrender, with the implication that those who surrendered would be treated well. A red flag indicated "no quarter."
Keelhaul Punishment by dragging under the ship, from one side to the other. The victim of a keelhauling would be half-drowned, or worse, and lacerated by the barnacles that grew beneath the ship.
Kiss the gunner's daughter A punishment: to be bent over one of the ship's guns and flogged.
Lad, lass, lassie A way to address someone younger than you.
Landlubber or just lubber A non-sailor.
Lights Lungs. A pirate might threaten to "have someone's lights and liver."
Line A rope in use as part of the ship's rigging, or as a towing line. When a rope is just coiled up on deck, not yet being used for anything, it's all right to call it a rope.
Lookout Someone posted to keep watch on the horizon for other ships or signs of land.
Maroon A common punishment for violation of a pirate ship's articles, or offending her crew. The victim was left on a deserted coast (or, island) with few supplies. That way, no one could say that the unlucky pirate had actually been killed by his former brethren.
Me A piratical way to say "my."
Me hearties Typical way for a pirate leader to address his crew.
Matey A piratical way to address someone in a cheerful, if not necessarily friendly, fashion.
No quarter! Surrender will not be accepted.
Piece of eight
A Spanish silver coin worth one peso or 8 reales. It was sometimes literally cut into eight pieces, each worth one real.
Pillage To raid, rob, and sack a target ashore.
Pirate A seagoing robber and murderer. Contrast with privateer.
Poop deck The highest deck at the aft end of a large ship. Smaller ships don't have a poop; the highest part aft is the quarterdeck.
Poxy, poxed Diseased. Used as an insult.
Rope's end Another term for flogging. "Ye'll meet the rope's end for that, me bucko!"
Rum (noun) Traditional pirate drink.
Rum (adjective) Strange or odd. A "rum fellow" is a peculiar person, the sort who won't say "Arrrr!" on Talk Like A Pirate Day.
Sail ho! "I see a ship!" The sail, of course, is the first part of a ship visible over the horizon.
Salt, old salt An experienced seaman.
Scurvy (1) A deficiency disease caused by lack of vitamin C, often afflicting sailors;
(2) A derogatory adjective for an epithet, as in "Ye scurvy dogs!"
Sea dog An experienced seaman.
Shanty Another spelling for "chantey" - a sea song.
Shark bait
(1) Your foes, who are about to feed the fish (q.v.).
(2) A worthless or lazy sailor; a lubber who is no use aboard ship.
Shiver me timbers! An expression of surprise or strong emotion.
Sink me! An expression of surprise.
Smartly
Quickly. "Smartly there, men!" = "Hurry up!"
Splice the mainbrace To have a drink. Or, perhaps, several drinks.
Spyglass A telescope.
Starboard The right side of the ship when ye are facing toward her prow.
Sutler A merchant in port, selling what a ship needed for supplies and repairs.
Swab (noun) A disrespectful term for a seaman. "Man that gun, ye cowardly swabs!"
Swab (verb) To clean something. "Swabbing the decks" would be a mild penalty for a disobedient pirate.
Swag Loot.
Wench An individual of the female persuasion. "Saucy" is a good adjective to add to this, and if ye can get away with "Me proud beauty,” more power to ye!
Yo-ho-ho
Thar be a bunch o’ words an’ sayin’s used by salty old sea dogs that don’t make much sense to a landsman, so here’s a few of ‘em to help yer get yer sea legs.
pirate
I be the original poster of this here invitation! Just so ye landlubbers know! I'm the original Captain of this particular quest on the seven seas!
Now let's sing them thar landlubbers tha song of our people. This sea shanty shall never be forgotten!
Fifteen men on a dead cack-handed deck ape's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight
With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight
And we heaved 'em over and out of sight,
With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-ye-well
And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell
Ten fathoms deep on the road to Davy Jones's locker,
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!Fifteen men on a dead cack-handed deck ape's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight
With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight
And we heaved 'em over and out of sight,
With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-ye-well
And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell
Ten fathoms deep on the road to Davy Jones's locker,Fifteen men on a dead cack-handed deck ape's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight
With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight
And we heaved 'em over and out of sight,
With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-ye-well
And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell
Ten fathoms deep on the road to Davy Jones's locker,
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!
Here be a guide fer them scurvy landlubbers, savvy? Here are a few phrases ye scalawags can use to boost yer pirate bounty!
Shiver me timbers! Yar! Grab me booty! Walk tha' plank! Batten down tha hatches. Swab tha deck! Get Buried treasure! You are a PIRATE! Where's me parrot? Ye scallywags!Percack-handed deck apeent! All hands on ME! Arrr matey! Yo ho and Avast!Ahoy, Aye, Booty, Black Spot, Jolly Roger, Landlubber, Matey
Parley, Pirate, Shiver me timbers, Walk the plank, Parrot, Helm, Bow
pirate wench ahoy matey jolly roger davy jones booty shiver me timbers scurvy
Also in case ye scurvy dogs need ye selves a guide so ye know what tha pirates like me be talking about here ya go!
Aaaarrrrgggghhhh! - exhortation of discontent or disgust
Ahoy! - Hello!
Ahoy, Matey - Hello, my friend!
Ahoy, me Hearties! - the same as saying "Hello, my friends!"
All hand hoay! - comparable to all hands on deck
Avast ye - avast ye! and check this out or pay attention
Aye - yes
Batten down the hatches - put everything away on the ship and tie everything down because a storm is brewing
Bilge-sucking - insult
Blimey! - exhortation of surprise
Blow me down! - expression of shock of disbelief akin to "Holy Crap!"
Blow the cack-handed deck ape down - command to kill someone
Booty - treasure
Buccaneer - a pirate
Bucko - a buccaneer
Cat O'Nine Tails - a whip with nine strands
Corsair - pirates in the Mediterranean Sea
Crow's nest - small platform atop the mast where the lookout stands
Cutlass - short heavy curved bladed sword used by pirates
Davy Jones' Locker - fabled, mythical place at the bottom of the ocean where the evil spirit of Davy Jones brings sailor and pirates to die
Dead men tell no tales - phrase indicating to leave no survivors
Doubloons - other coins or found in pirate hoards and stashes
Feed the fish - will soon die
Hang 'im from the yardarm - punishment of those captured in battle
Head - the pirate ship's toilet
Heave Ho - give it some muscle and push it
Hempen Halter - a noose for hanging
Hornswaggle - to defraud or cheat out of money or belongings
Jacob's Ladder - the rope ladder one uses to climb aboard a sloop
Jolly Roger - pirate's flag including white skull and crossbones over a black field
Keelhaul - punishment in which a person where dragged underneath the pirate ship from side to side and was lacerated by the barnacles on the vessel
Lad, lass, lassie - a younger person
Landlubber - big, slow clumsy person who doesn't know how to sail
Letters of Marque - letters issue from governments during wartime to privateers endorsing the piracy of another vessel
Man-O-War - pirate's ship outfitted for battle
Me - my
Mizzen - third mast from the bow of the ship on ships that have three or more masts
Old Salt - an experienced sailor
Pieces of eight - coins or found in pirate stashes
Pillage - rob, sack or plunder
Poop deck - the part of the ship farthest to the back, which is usually above the captain's quarters. This is not the bathroom.
Privateer - government-sponsored pirates
Rum - pirate's traditional alcoholic beverage
Run a shot across the bow - warning shot to another vessel's captain
Savvy? - do ye understand and do ye agree?
Scallywag - mild insult akin to rapscallion or rogue
Scurvy dog - the pirate is talking directly to ye with mild insult
Scuttle - to sink a ship
Seadog - old pirate or sailor
Shark bait - will soon join Davy Jones' Locker
Shipshape - cleaned up and under control
Shiver me timbers! - comparable to "Holy Crap!"
Son of a Biscuit Eater - insult directed towards someone ye don't like
Thar she blows! - Whale sighting
Three sheets to the wind - someone who is very drunk. One sheet is mildly three sheets to the wind and four sheets is passed out.
Walk the plank - punishment in which person walks off a board jutting over the side of the ship while at sea. The consequence is drowning and a visit to Davy Jones' Locker.
Weigh anchor and hoist the mizzen! - pull up the anchor and the sail and let's get going
Ye - you
Yo Ho Ho - cheerful exhortation to demand attention
If ye be lookin fer more words these should do ya tha trick!
Prepare to be boarded!
Swab My Deck, Wench.
I'll swab your poop deck.
Honk if ye like my booty.
Surrrrrender the booty!
Save a ship. Ride a pirate.
Me buried booty is in me pocket.
Ahoy Boys!
Vacation equals Arrrrrr N Arrrrrr
Avast! Pull Me Mast!
Shut Ye Pie Hole, I'm Diving in Ye Bung Hole
Rubbers are for land lubbers
I've hit the Mother-load! (and the daughter-load)
Wench Press
Ye want to see me Cockswain?
Walk the plank, wench, and then ride it.
Pirates do it harrrrrder!
Here are some other pirate sayings:
Touch my loot, feel my boot.
Touch me parrot, me bite your carrot.
Save thee Bilge rats!
Let's drink grog before the fog.
Shiver me timbers! Me wooden leg has termites.
Pirate Quotes
I'm a pirate. I'm my own captain.
A friend can betray you, but an enemy will always stay the same.
Land was created to provide a place for boats to visit.
If ye can't trust a pirate, ye damn well can't trust a merchant either.
A pirate is for life, not just for Christmas.
Take what ye can, give nothing back.
If ye thinks he be ready to sail a beauty, ye better be willin' to sink with her.
There comes a time in most men's lives where they feel the need to raise the Black Flag.
It is when pirates count their booty that they become mere thieves.
The existence of the sea means the existence of pirates.
Even pirates, before they attack another ship, hoist a black flag.
The average cack-handed deck ape will bristle if ye say his father was dishonest, but he will brag a little if he discovers that his great-grandfather was a pirate.
I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, A poet, a pawn and a king; I've been up and down and over and out, And I know one thing; Each time I find myself flat on my face, I pick myself up and get back in the race.
Dead men don't tell tales.
See ye in Davie Jones' Locker.
Ye can swab the poop deck, but ye can't poop on the swab deck.
In an honest service thar is thin commons, low wages, and hard labor; in this, plenty and satiety, pleasure and ease, liberty and power; and who would not balance creditor on this side, when all the hazard that is run for it, at worst, is only a sour look or two at choking. No, a merry life and a short one, shall be my motto.
Yes, I do heartily repent. I repent I had not done more mischief; and that we did not cut the throats of them that took us, and I am extremely sorry that ye aren't hanged as well as we
ome, don't be in a fright, but put on your clothes, and I'll let ye into a secret. You must know that I am Captain of this ship now, and this is my cabin, therefore ye must walk out. I am bound to Madagascar, with a design of making my own fortune, and that of all the brave fellows joined with me...if ye have a mind to make one of us, we will receive you, and if you'll turn sober, and mind your business, perhaps in time I may make ye one of my Lieutenants, if not, here's a ship alongside and ye shall be set ashore
Hark ye, ye Cocklyn and la Bouche, I find by strengthening you, I have put a rod into your hands to whip myself, but I am still able to deal with ye both; but since we met in love, let us part in love, for I find that three of a trade can never agree
Arrr, here be some nautical and piratical type words and their meanings. P-)
Ahoy - call to attract attention, something akin to 'Hello, there!'
Anchor - a heavy weight, often shaped with hooked ends, lowered into the water to keep a ship in one place.
Avast - nautical term meaning avast ye! what ye are doing, derived/corrupted from 'hold fast'.
Ballast - stones or other heavy items placed in a ship's bottom to help it maintain a stable upright position.
Becalmed - the state of a sailing ship when it cannot move because thar is no wind.
Belay - to tie or secure a rope end.
Bilge - the lowest part of the ship, bilge water is the foul, brackish sea water that would collect from seepage in this area
Black Jack - a leather tankard, made stiff with a coating of tar, used by dockside pubs and taverns to serve wine and beer.
Bowsprit - a long spar that projected from the ship's prow.
Buccaneer - early entrepreneurs who dried the meat from wild cattle and hogs on the island of Hispañola in the early 1600's to sell to ships returning to Europe (primarily Spain). A pirate or unscrupulous adventurer.
Capstan - a mechanism for raising and anchor, on larger ships this would often be a large ratcheted pulley with several spoke that a number of crewmen turned to wind the anchor cable up, raising the anchor a little at a time
Careen - cleaning a ship's hull of barnacles, seaweed and marine worms by beaching it and leaning it over to one side.
Corsair - maybe derived from the island name Corsica, pirate or pirate ship, esp. of Barbary (N. Africa in olden times), attacking ships of European countries; also, a French privateer, or Knights of Malta fighting the Barbary pirates. Other origins may be the Latin word corsus meaning plunder.
Cutlass - a short, curved, thick sword, the preferred weapon of many buccaneers, possibly a carry over weapon from the days of making boucan and probably more suited to the slashing melee amidst the rigging when boarding another ship than a long sword
Doubloon - gold coin minted by Spain or Spanish colonies, worth about seven weeks pay for an average sailor.
Flibustier or Filibuster - French term for pirates during the golden age (approximately the same time the term buccaneer came into wide usage)
Flogging - punishment in which a cack-handed deck ape was whipped on his naked back, often used enforce discipline and punish minor or major infractions by ordinary sailers
Freebooter - another term for a pirate, probably originating from a corruption of the Dutch vrijbuiters (plunderers), combining the words vrij meaning free and buit meaning loot
Gibbet - a wooden frame from which dead pirates were hung, often in a metal cage especially fitted for the pirate, as a warning to any others who would think of taking up a career of piracy
Gunport - a hole, sometimes with an opening shutter, for a cannon to fire through
Handing a sail - rolling a sail up, analogous to shortening a sail
Helm - tiller or wheel used to steer ship
Helmsman - the person who steers the ship
Hold - the cargo area of a ship below the main deck
Jolly Roger - the pirate flag with its skull and cross bones, see my flag page for more details
Letters of Marque - proof that a pirate/privateer is sponsored by a particular government.
Masthead - the top of a mast
Picaroon - term meaning both pirate and slaver.
Piece of Eight - Spanish silver coin, or old Spanish peso, often cut into pieces to make change.
Pirate - derived from the Greek pirate, meaning one who plunders on the sea.
Ponton - an English prison hulk, or converted ship hull, where captured pirates were held.
Privateer - a pirate working for a particular government (often provided with letters of marque to prove this), restricting prey to that of another unfriendly government.
Prize - a captured ship
Quarterdeck - highest deck at the rear of the ship, ship's officers would often stand on the quarterdeck to oversee the ship's operation
Scurvy - a disease resulting from a vitamin C deficiency, characterized by weakness, anemia and spongy gums, although in the sense of 'scurvy dog' it meant low or mean (not angry, but low in quality)
Sea rover - pirate; pirate's ship
Seams - the line where the ship's planks joined, if not sealed properly the ship would leak
Setting a sail - letting the sail down, the opposite of handing
Shorten sail - to reduce the amount of sail hanging from the yards
Sprung seam - a seam that is no longer sealed and is leaking
Tiller - a pole attached to the rudder of a ship, used for steering the ship
Topman - sailor in charge of the topsailsArrr, here be some nautical and piratical type words and their meanings. P-)
Ahoy - call to attract attention, something akin to 'Hello, there!'
Anchor - a heavy weight, often shaped with hooked ends, lowered into the water to keep a ship in one place.
Avast - nautical term meaning avast ye! what ye are doing, derived/corrupted from 'hold fast'.
Ballast - stones or other heavy items placed in a ship's bottom to help it maintain a stable upright position.
Becalmed - the state of a sailing ship when it cannot move because thar is no wind.
Belay - to tie or secure a rope end.
Bilge - the lowest part of the ship, bilge water is the foul, brackish sea water that would collect from seepage in this area
Black Jack - a leather tankard, made stiff with a coating of tar, used by dockside pubs and taverns to serve wine and beer.
Bowsprit - a long spar that projected from the ship's prow.
Buccaneer - early entrepreneurs who dried the meat from wild cattle and hogs on the island of Hispañola in the early 1600's to sell to ships returning to Europe (primarily Spain). A pirate or unscrupulous adventurer.
Capstan - a mechanism for raising and anchor, on larger ships this would often be a large ratcheted pulley with several spoke that a number of crewmen turned to wind the anchor cable up, raising the anchor a little at a time
Careen - cleaning a ship's hull of barnacles, seaweed and marine worms by beaching it and leaning it over to one side.
Corsair - maybe derived from the island name Corsica, pirate or pirate ship, esp. of Barbary (N. Africa in olden times), attacking ships of European countries; also, a French privateer, or Knights of Malta fighting the Barbary pirates. Other origins may be the Latin word corsus meaning plunder.
Cutlass - a short, curved, thick sword, the preferred weapon of many buccaneers, possibly a carry over weapon from the days of making boucan and probably more suited to the slashing melee amidst the rigging when boarding another ship than a long sword
Doubloon - gold coin minted by Spain or Spanish colonies, worth about seven weeks pay for an average sailor.
Flibustier or Filibuster - French term for pirates during the golden age (approximately the same time the term buccaneer came into wide usage)
Flogging - punishment in which a cack-handed deck ape was whipped on his naked back, often used enforce discipline and punish minor or major infractions by ordinary sailers
Freebooter - another term for a pirate, probably originating from a corruption of the Dutch vrijbuiters (plunderers), combining the words vrij meaning free and buit meaning loot
Gibbet - a wooden frame from which dead pirates were hung, often in a metal cage especially fitted for the pirate, as a warning to any others who would think of taking up a career of piracy
Gunport - a hole, sometimes with an opening shutter, for a cannon to fire through
Handing a sail - rolling a sail up, analogous to shortening a sail
Helm - tiller or wheel used to steer ship
Helmsman - the person who steers the ship
Hold - the cargo area of a ship below the main deck
Jolly Roger - the pirate flag with its skull and cross bones, see my flag page for more details
Letters of Marque - proof that a pirate/privateer is sponsored by a particular government.
Masthead - the top of a mast
Picaroon - term meaning both pirate and slaver.
Piece of Eight - Spanish silver coin, or old Spanish peso, often cut into pieces to make change.
Pirate - derived from the Greek pirate, meaning one who plunders on the sea.
Ponton - an English prison hulk, or converted ship hull, where captured pirates were held.
Privateer - a pirate working for a particular government (often provided with letters of marque to prove this), restricting prey to that of another unfriendly government.
Prize - a captured ship
Quarterdeck - highest deck at the rear of the ship, ship's officers would often stand on the quarterdeck to oversee the ship's operation
Scurvy - a disease resulting from a vitamin C deficiency, characterized by weakness, anemia and spongy gums, although in the sense of 'scurvy dog' it meant low or mean (not angry, but low in quality)
Sea rover - pirate; pirate's ship
Seams - the line where the ship's planks joined, if not sealed properly the ship would leak
Setting a sail - letting the sail down, the opposite of handing
Shorten sail - to reduce the amount of sail hanging from the yards
Sprung seam - a seam that is no longer sealed and is leaking
Tiller - a pole attached to the rudder of a ship, used for steering the ship
Topman - sailor in charge of the topsails
Shiver me timbers! Yar! Grab me booty! Walk tha' plank! Batten down tha hatches. Swab tha deck! Get Buried treasure! You are a PIRATE! Where's me parrot? Ye scallywags! Percack-handed deck apeent! All hands on ME! Arrr matey! Yo ho and Avast! Lass! Wench! Ahoy! Beauty! Belay! Bounty! Bilge rat! Buccaneer! Cap'n! Davy Jones' Locker! Dubloons. Gangway! Hearties! Landlubber! Lily-livered! Seven seas. Plunderin' and Sailin'! Jolly Roger.
Fifteen men on a dead cack-handed deck ape's chest, Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum, Drink and the devil had done for the rest, Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum. We wrapped 'em all in a mains'l tight, With twice ten turns of a hawser's bight, And we heaved 'em over and out of sight, With a Yo-Heave-Ho! and a fare-ye-well, And a sudden plunge in the sullen swell, Ten fathoms deep on the road to Davy Jones's locker, Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum! Scurvy dog! Pirate life on a ship. Avast ye ayeterday!, gold dubloon my bonny booty briny deep ocean, arrgh shiver me timbers yar walk the plank, hoist the jolly rogers, Arrr
Shiver me timbers! Yar! Grab me booty! Walk tha' plank! Batten down tha hatches. Swab tha deck! Get Buried treasure! You are a PIRATE! Where's me parrot? Ye scallywags!Percack-handed deck apeent! All hands on ME! Arrr matey! Yo ho and Avast!Ahoy, Aye, Booty, Black Spot, Jolly Roger, Landlubber, Matey, Parley, Pirate, Shiver me timbers, Walk the plank, Parrot, Helm, Bow, pirate wench ahoy matey jolly roger davy jones booty shiver me timbers scurvy, Aaaarrrrgggghhhh! - exhortation of discontent or disgust, Ahoy! - Hello! Ahoy, Matey - Hello, my friend! Ahoy, ye Hearties! - the same as saying "Hello, my friends!" All hand hoay! - comparable to all hands on deck Avast ye - avast ye! and check this out or pay attention
Aye - aye Batten down the hatches - put everything away on the ship and tie everything down because a storm is brewing Bilge-sucking - insult Blimey! - exhortation of surprise Blow me down! - expression of shock of disbelief akin to "Holy Crap!" Blow the cack-handed deck ape down - command to kill someone Booty - booty Buccaneer - a pirate Bucko - a buccaneer
Cat O'Nine Tails - a whip with nine strands Corsair - pirates in the Mediterranean Sea
Crow's nest - small platform atop the mast where the lookout stands Cutlass - short heavy curved bladed sword used by pirates Davy Jones' Locker - fabled, mythical place at the bottom of the ocean where the evil spirit of Davy Jones brings sailor and pirates to die Dead men tell no tales - phrase indicating to leave no survivors Doubloons - other coins or found in pirate hoards and stashes Feed the fish - will soon die Hang 'im from the yardarm - punishment of those captured in battle Head - the pirate ship's toilet Heave Ho - give it some muscle and push it
Hempen Halter - a noose for hanging Hornswaggle - to defraud or cheat out of money or belongings Jacob's Ladder - the rope ladder one uses to climb aboard a sloop Jolly Roger - pirate's flag including white skull and crossbones over a black field Keelhaul - punishment in which a person where dragged underneath the pirate ship from side to side and was lacerated by the barnacles on the vessel Lad, lass, lassie - a younger person Landlubber - big, slow clumsy person who doesn't know how to sail Letters of Marque - letters issue from governments during wartime to privateers endorsing the piracy of another vessel Man-O-War - pirate's ship outfitted for battle Me - my Mizzen - third mast from the bow of the ship on ships that have three or more masts Old Salt - an experienced sailor Pieces of eight - coins or found in pirate stashes
Pillage - rob, sack or plunder Poop deck - the part of the ship farthest to the back, which is usually above the captain's quarters. This is not the bathroom. Privateer - government-sponsored pirates Rum - pirate's traditional alcoholic beverage Run a shot across the bow - warning shot to another vessel's captain Savvy? - do ye understand and do ye agree?
Scallywag - mild insult akin to rapscallion or rogue Scurvy dog - the pirate is talking directly to ye with mild insult Scuttle - to sink a ship Seadog - old pirate or sailor Shark bait - will soon join Davy Jones' Locker Shipshape - cleaned up and under control Shiver me timbers! - comparable to "Holy Crap!" Son of a Biscuit Eater - insult directed towards someone ye don't like
Thar she blows! - Whale sighting Three sheets to the wind - someone who is very drunk. One sheet is mildly three sheets to the wind and four sheets is passed out. Walk the plank - punishment in which person walks off a board jutting over the side of the ship while at sea. The consequence is drowning and a visit to Davy Jones' Locker. Weigh anchor and hoist the mizzen! - pull up the anchor and the sail and let's get going Ye - ye Yo Ho Ho - cheerful exhortation to demand attention Ye've Landlubber Arrrg! Avast Ye Scurvy Parrot Sea Ahoy Ye Matey Shiver me timbers seven seas poop deck walk the plank ships parrot pegleg hook cannon Davy Jones' Locker poop deck doubloons booty loot booty buccaneer
Shiver me timbers! Yar! Grab me booty! Walk tha' plank! Batten down tha hatches. Swab tha deck! Get Buried treasure! You are a PIRATE! Where's me parrot? Ye scallywags!Percack-handed deck apeent! All hands on ME! Arrr matey! Yo ho and Avast!
Ye've
Landlubber
Arrrg!
Avast Ye
Scurvy
Parrot
Sea
Ahoy
Ye
Matey
Shiver me timbers
seven seas
poop deck
walk the plank
ships
parrot
pegleg
hook
cannon
Davy Jones' Locker
poop deck
doubloons
booty
loot
treasure
buccaneer
Lol!
Ye've
Landlubber
Arrrg!
Avast Ye
Scurvy
Parrot
Sea
Ahoy
Ye
Matey
Shiver me timbers
seven seas
poop deck
walk the plank
ships
parrot
pegleg
hook
cannon
Davy Jones' Locker
poop deck
doubloons
booty
loot
treasure
buccaneer
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
Percack-handed deck apeent?ahoy
landlubber
ye
lass
rum
booty
ahoy
davy jone's locker
scurvy
jolly roger
matey
yo ho ho
walk the plank
shiver me timbers
deck
parrot
scallywags
doubloons
swab the deck
avast
grog
arr
argh
sails
course
We pillage, we plunder, we rifle and loot
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot
Drink up me hearties, yo ho
Ye've
Landlubber
Arrrg!
Avast Ye
Scurvy
Parrot
Sea
Ahoy
Ye
Matey
Shiver me timbers
seven seas
poop deck
walk the plank
ships
parrot
pegleg
hook
cannon
Davy Jones' Locker
poop deck
doubloons
booty
loot
treasure
buccaneer
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me
Percack-handed deck apeent?ahoy
landlubber
ye
lass
rum
booty
ahoy
davy jone's locker
scurvy
jolly roger
matey
yo ho ho
walk the plank
shiver me timbers
deck
parrot
scallywags
doubloons
swab the deck
avast
grog
arr
argh
sails
course
Shiver me timbers! Yar! Grab me booty! Walk tha' plank! Batten down tha hatches. Swab tha deck! Get Buried treasure! You are a PIRATE! Where's me parrot? Ye scallywags!Percack-handed deck apeent! All hands on ME! Arrr matey! Yo ho and Avast!Ahoy, Aye, Booty, Black Spot, Jolly Roger, Landlubber, Matey
Parley, Pirate, Shiver me timbers, Walk the plank, Parrot, Helm, Bow
pirate wench ahoy matey jolly roger davy jones booty shiver me timbers scurvy
Aaaarrrrgggghhhh! - exhortation of discontent or disgust
Ahoy! - Hello!
Ahoy, Matey - Hello, my friend!
Ahoy, ye Hearties! - the same as saying "Hello, my friends!"
All hand hoay! - comparable to all hands on deck
Avast ye - avast ye! and check this out or pay attention
Aye - yes
Batten down the hatches - put everything away on the ship and tie everything down because a storm is brewing
Bilge-sucking - insult
Blimey! - exhortation of surprise
Blow me down! - expression of shock of disbelief akin to "Holy Crap!"
Blow the cack-handed deck ape down - command to kill someone
Booty - treasure
Buccaneer - a pirate
Bucko - a buccaneer
Cat O'Nine Tails - a whip with nine strands
Corsair - pirates in the Mediterranean Sea
Crow's nest - small platform atop the mast where the lookout stands
Cutlass - short heavy curved bladed sword used by pirates
Davy Jones' Locker - fabled, mythical place at the bottom of the ocean where the evil spirit of Davy Jones brings sailor and pirates to die
Dead men tell no tales - phrase indicating to leave no survivors
Doubloons - other coins or found in pirate hoards and stashes
Feed the fish - will soon die
Hang 'im from the yardarm - punishment of those captured in battle
Head - the pirate ship's toilet
Heave Ho - give it some muscle and push it
Hempen Halter - a noose for hanging
Hornswaggle - to defraud or cheat out of money or belongings
Jacob's Ladder - the rope ladder one uses to climb aboard a sloop
Jolly Roger - pirate's flag including white skull and crossbones over a black field
Keelhaul - punishment in which a person where dragged underneath the pirate ship from side to side and was lacerated by the barnacles on the vessel
Lad, lass, lassie - a younger person
Landlubber - big, slow clumsy person who doesn't know how to sail
Letters of Marque - letters issue from governments during wartime to privateers endorsing the piracy of another vessel
Man-O-War - pirate's ship outfitted for battle
Me - my
Mizzen - third mast from the bow of the ship on ships that have three or more masts
Old Salt - an experienced sailor
Pieces of eight - coins or found in pirate stashes
Pillage - rob, sack or plunder
Poop deck - the part of the ship farthest to the back, which is usually above the captain's quarters. This is not the bathroom.
Privateer - government-sponsored pirates
Rum - pirate's traditional alcoholic beverage
Run a shot across the bow - warning shot to another vessel's captain
Savvy? - do ye understand and do ye agree?
Scallywag - mild insult akin to rapscallion or rogue
Scurvy dog - the pirate is talking directly to ye with mild insult
Scuttle - to sink a ship
Seadog - old pirate or sailor
Shark bait - will soon join Davy Jones' Locker
Shipshape - cleaned up and under control
Shiver me timbers! - comparable to "Holy Crap!"
Son of a Biscuit Eater - insult directed towards someone ye don't like
Thar she blows! - Whale sighting
Three sheets to the wind - someone who is very drunk. One sheet is mildly three sheets to the wind and four sheets is passed out.
Walk the plank - punishment in which person walks off a board jutting over the side of the ship while at sea. The consequence is drowning and a visit to Davy Jones' Locker.
Weigh anchor and hoist the mizzen! - pull up the anchor and the sail and let's get going
Ye - you
Yo Ho Ho - cheerful exhortation to demand attention
Ye've
Landlubber
Arrrg!
Avast Ye
Scurvy
Parrot
Sea
Ahoy
Ye
Matey
Shiver me timbers
seven seas
poop deck
walk the plank
ships
parrot
pegleg
hook
cannon
Davy Jones' Locker
poop deck
doubloons
booty
loot booty buccaneer
A
Aft – The back of the ship.
Ahoy! – ‘Hello’
Arr – Yes/That’s great/I agree
Aye – ‘Yes, definitely.’
Aye Aye – ‘Of course, I’ll do that now.’
B
Barbary Coast – Mediterranean coast off of North Africa.
Be – Use instead of ‘am’, ‘are’ or ‘is’.
Bilboes – Leg irons attached to the deck of a ship.
Bilge – The dirtiest, smelliest and lowest part of a ship.
Bilge rat – A rat that lives in the dirtiest, smelliest and lowest part of a ship. This is not a nice name to call somebody.
Black Spotted – A person/animal that has had a curse put on them.
Blimey – ‘Wow.’
Booty – Riches that have usually been stolen.
Bounty – A reward, usually paid by the Government for the capture of a criminal.
Buccanneer – Pirates, usually from Hispaniola, who attacked Spanish ships in the Caribbean.
Bucko – Friend
C
Careen – To clean the hull of a ship.
Cat’o’nine tails – A whip made up of nine knotted ropes and used as punishment.
Convoy – A group of ships traveling together.
Corsair – Pirates in the Mediterranean.
Crow’s Nest – A lookout point at the top of the highest mast of a ship.
Cutlass – A curved sword, often used by sailors.
D
Davy Jones Locker – The bottom of the ocean.
Deck – The highest floor on a ship.
Deckhand – A person working on a ship, sometimes shortened to ‘hand’.
Dubloon – An old Spainish gold coin.
F
Fair Winds – ‘Good Luck.’
Flog – To whip.
Fore – Short for ‘forward’.
G
Galleon – A large, squarish ship used in war or to carry cargo.
Gangway – ‘Clear a path.’
Grog – Rum mixed with water or any kind of alcohol.
Grub – Food
H
Hands – Crewmen.
Haven – A safe place.
Heave to – To change the direction of the ship so it is facing forwards into the wind.
Hold – The space in a ship where cargo or prisoners were kept.
Hornpipe – A dance or a single reeded musical instrument.
Hornswaggle – To cheat.
Hornswaggler – A person who cheats.
Hulk – The old, dismantled body of a ship, sometimes used as prisons.
Hull – The body of a ship, not including the masts and rigging.
J
Jack Tar – Sailor
Jolly Roger – The pirate flag - a white skull and crossbones on a black background.
K
Keel – The main framework of a ship that runs from the front to the back at the bottom of the ship.
Keelhaul – To pull somebody under the keel of a ship. Done by using ropes and often as a form of punishment.
L
Lad – Young man.
Land ahoy! – ‘I see land.’
Land lubber or lubber – A person who likes being on land, often used as an insult.
Lass – Young woman.
Leg Irons – Wide rings of metal that were attached to each other and fastened around prisoner’s ankles.
Loot – Gold and riches usually stolen.
Lubber or land lubber – A person who likes being on land, often used as an insult.
M
Marooned – Left alone, usually on a deserted island.
Mast – The upright pole on a ship that the sails and ropes are attached to.
Mate or Matey – Friend
Me – Used instead of ‘my’.
Me beauty – How ye would address a pretty lady or something important to you.
Me hearties – Friends
Merchant Ship – A ship carrying cargo to be sold.
Mutiny – When a ship’s crew refuse to follow the captain’s orders.
N
New World - America
P
Peg leg – An artificial leg, usually wooden.
Pieces of Eight – An old Spanish silver coin.
Pirate – A ‘robber of the sea’.
Plunder – To steal.
Poop deck – The floor that is also the roof of a cabin built on the upper deck.
Poop cabin – A room built on the top deck of a ship, often the Captain’s.
Port – The left side when facing the ship’s pointy end, also a strong alcoholic drink, and the area of land next to where ships are left when the pirates go ashore.
Privateer – English, French or Dutch sailors allowed by their Government to attack enemy ships.
Prow – The pointy end of a ship.
Q
Quartermaster – The sailor second-in-charge to the Captain.
R
Rigging – The ropes, mast and sails on a ship.
S
Salt or Old Salt – Somebody who has been a sailor for a long time.
Sea dog – Somebody who has been a sailor for a long time.
Scurvy – A disease many sailors got because they didn’t eat enough vitamin C.
Scuttle – To make a hole in a ship’s hull or to sink the ship.
Shanty – A seafaring song.
Shipshape – To be neat and tidy.
Shiver me timbers – ‘What a surprise.’
Sink me – ‘What a surprise.’
Smartly – Quickly
Starboard – The right side of the ship (if ye are facing the pointed end).
Swab – To clean something or a name for somebody ye don’t like very much.
Swag – Gold and riches.
T
To be three sheets to the wind – To have three sheets to the wind too much alcohol.
Titivate – To clean up and make neat.
W
Walk the plank – To be forced to walk along and off the end of a plank that has been placed over the side of a ship.
Weevil – A kind of beetle that can eat your food before ye do.
Weigh anchor – To lift the anchor and be ready to sail.
Y
Ye – Used instead of ‘you’.
Yer – Used instead of ‘your’.
Addled
Mad, insane, or just stupid. An "addlepate" is a fool.
Aft Short for "after." Toward the rear of the ship.
Ahoy Hello!
Avast! Hey! Could also be used as "Stop that!" or "Who goes there?"
Begad! By God!
Belay Avast Ye! that. "Belay that talk!" would mean "Shut up!"
Bilge! Nonsense, or foolish talk. The bilges of a ship are the lowest parts, inside the hull along the keel. They fill with stinking bilgewater—or just "bilge."
Bilge-sucking A very uncomplimentary adjective.
Black Spot
To "place the Black Spot" on another pirate is to sentence him to death, to warn him he is marked for death, or sometimes just to accuse him of a serious crime before other pirates.
Blaggard Blackguard. An insult.
Blimey! An exclamation of surprise.
Booty Loot.
Bosun Boatswain, a petty officer.
Bucko Familiar term. "Me bucko" = "my friend."
Cap'n Short for "captain."
Cat o'nine tails A whip with many lashes, used for flogging. "A taste of the cat" might refer to a full flogging, or just a single blow to "smarten up" a recalcitrant hand.
Chantey A sailor's work song. Also spelled "shantey" or "shanty."
Corsair A more romantic term for pirate. But still a pirate.
Davy Jones' locker The bottom of the sea.
Deadlights Eyes. "Use yer deadlights, matey!"
Dead men tell no tales Standard pirate excuse for leaving no survivors.
Dog A mild insult, perhaps even a friendly one.
Doubloon A Spanish gold coin. At different times, it was worth either 4 or 16 silver pesos, or "pieces of eight."
Fair winds!
Goodbye, good luck!
Feed the fish What ye do when ye are thrown into the sea, dead or alive.
Gangway! "Get out of my way!"
Godspeed! Goodbye, good luck!
Grub Food.
Fore, or forrard Toward the front end of the ship.
Flogging Punishment by caning, or by whipping with the cat.
Hands The crew of a ship; sailors.
Handsomely Quickly. "Handsomely now, men!" = "Hurry up!"
Jack Ketch The hangman. To dance with Jack Ketch is to hang.
Jollyboat
A small but happy craft, perhaps even one which is a little dinghy.
Jolly Roger The pirates' skull-and-crossbones flag. It was an invitation to surrender, with the implication that those who surrendered would be treated well. A red flag indicated "no quarter."
Keelhaul Punishment by dragging under the ship, from one side to the other. The victim of a keelhauling would be half-drowned, or worse, and lacerated by the barnacles that grew beneath the ship.
Kiss the gunner's daughter A punishment: to be bent over one of the ship's guns and flogged.
Lad, lass, lassie A way to address someone younger than you.
Landlubber or just lubber A non-sailor.
Lights Lungs. A pirate might threaten to "have someone's lights and liver."
Line A rope in use as part of the ship's rigging, or as a towing line. When a rope is just coiled up on deck, not yet being used for anything, it's all right to call it a rope.
Lookout Someone posted to keep watch on the horizon for other ships or signs of land.
Maroon A common punishment for violation of a pirate ship's articles, or offending her crew. The victim was left on a deserted coast (or, island) with few supplies. That way, no one could say that the unlucky pirate had actually been killed by his former brethren.
Me A piratical way to say "my."
Me hearties Typical way for a pirate leader to address his crew.
Matey A piratical way to address someone in a cheerful, if not necessarily friendly, fashion.
No quarter! Surrender will not be accepted.
Piece of eight
A Spanish silver coin worth one peso or 8 reales. It was sometimes literally cut into eight pieces, each worth one real.
Pillage To raid, rob, and sack a target ashore.
Pirate A seagoing robber and murderer. Contrast with privateer.
Poop deck The highest deck at the aft end of a large ship. Smaller ships don't have a poop; the highest part aft is the quarterdeck.
Poxy, poxed Diseased. Used as an insult.
Rope's end Another term for flogging. "Ye'll meet the rope's end for that, me bucko!"
Rum (noun) Traditional pirate drink.
Rum (adjective) Strange or odd. A "rum fellow" is a peculiar person, the sort who won't say "Arrrr!" on Talk Like A Pirate Day.
Sail ho! "I see a ship!" The sail, of course, is the first part of a ship visible over the horizon.
Salt, old salt An experienced seaman.
Scurvy (1) A deficiency disease caused by lack of vitamin C, often afflicting sailors;
(2) A derogatory adjective for an epithet, as in "Ye scurvy dogs!"
Sea dog An experienced seaman.
Shanty Another spelling for "chantey" - a sea song.
Shark bait
(1) Your foes, who are about to feed the fish (q.v.).
(2) A worthless or lazy sailor; a lubber who is no use aboard ship.
Shiver me timbers! An expression of surprise or strong emotion.
Sink me! An expression of surprise.
Smartly
Quickly. "Smartly there, men!" = "Hurry up!"
Splice the mainbrace To have a drink. Or, perhaps, several drinks.
Spyglass A telescope.
Starboard The right side of the ship when ye are facing toward her prow.
Sutler A merchant in port, selling what a ship needed for supplies and repairs.
Swab (noun) A disrespectful term for a seaman. "Man that gun, ye cowardly swabs!"
Swab (verb) To clean something. "Swabbing the decks" would be a mild penalty for a disobedient pirate.
Swag Loot.
Wench An individual of the female persuasion. "Saucy" is a good adjective to add to this, and if ye can get away with "Me proud beauty,” more power to ye!
Yo-ho-ho
Thar be a bunch o’ words an’ sayin’s used by salty old sea dogs that don’t make much sense to a landsman, so here’s a few of ‘em to help yer get yer sea legs.
pirate
