Books and Stories

Pirate Talk - A to L

Pirates and sailors had many words that they used that we do not often hear today, Here are a few of their words and sayings:

aft – The stern of back of a ship or boat.

ahoy – A hail to attract attention – like "hello there".

arr! – Yes, or to agree with something.

avast - Stop doing something – quit that.

aye (or ay) - Yes.

barbary Coast - The Mediterranean coastline of North Africa

barque - A sailing ship with from three to five masts, or a small row boat.

belay - secure or tie down, or to stop

bilge – The lowest part inside the ship below water line. The bilge is typically dirty and smelly – thus the other meaning – nonsense or talking rubbish.

black jack - A tankard made from leather.

blimey! - An exclamation of surprise.

blow the man down - To kill a man.

boatswain (or bosun) - An officer in charge of the ships rigging, anchors, cables, and deck crew.

boom - A long pole extending from a mast to hold the bottom of a sail.

booty - Treasure.

bounty - Reward or payment for the capture of a pirate.

bowsprit - The slanted pole sticking out the from of a ship. It is usually used as a connection for a front sail. Blackbeard's head was hung as a trophy from the bowsprit.

brigantine (also brig) - A two-masted sailing ship.

broadside – the side of a ship – typically associated with firing a broadside – firing all guns along one side of the ship.

buccaneer - A pirate.

cable - A heavy rope or chain for mooring or anchoring a ship.

capstan - An winch used for hoisting anchor lines or other lines that have heavy loads.

case shot - A collection of small bits of everything put in cases to fire from a cannon.

cat o'nine tails (or cat) - a whip with nine parts used for flogging.

chain shot - Two cannonballs attached together with a chain, aimed high in order to try to destroy masts and rigging.

chase guns - cannon typically with a long range in the bow of a ship, used during pursuit.

coffer - A chest in which treasure is usually kept.

come about – to change direction when soiling into the wind.

corsair - A pirate

coxswain - A sailor who steers a ship's boat.

crow's nest - A small observation platform at the top of a mast.

cutlass - A short, heavy sword with a curved blade.

Davy Jones' Locker – A sailors name for the bottom of the ocean.

dead men tell no tales – An excuse for leaving no survivors.

doubloon - A gold coin.

fathom - A unit used to measure the depth of water – a fathom is six feet

fire in the hole - A warning that a cannon is to be fired.

fire ship - A ship set on fire and set to drift against enemy ships to destroy them.

flogging - Beating someone with a stick or whip, especially the cat.

forecastle - The part of the ship located at the bow forward of the foremast

fore - The front of the ship.

furl - To roll up and tie down a sail

galleon - A large three-masted sailing ship.

galley – A ship’s kitchen

galley - A vessel propelled (at least in part) by oars.

gangplank (or gangway) - A board used to walk between the ship and a jetty.

grapple (also grappling hook, or grappling iron) - An multi pringed hook used for grasping and holding.

grog - An alcoholic drink of rum diluted with water.

hands - The crew of a ship, sailors.

handsomely – Well done

hardtack (also sea biscuit) - A hard biscuit made from flour and water.

hearties – Fellow sailors.

heave to - Come to a halt.

ho – a word used to attract attention or to urge on - Land ho!

holystone - A piece of soft sandstone used for scouring the ship’s wooden decks.

hulk - British prison ships that captured pirates and privateers.

jack - A flag flown to indicate her nationality.

jib - A triangular sail in the bow of a ship or boat.

jolly boat - A small boat carried at the stern of a sailing ship.

Jolly Roger - A pirate flag.

keel - The bottom of a ship.

keelhaul - To punish someone by dragging them under a ship.

lad - A young male.

landlubber or just lubber - A landsman unfamiliar with the sea.

lanyard - A rope.

lass - A young female.

lateen sail - A triangular sail set on a long sloping yard.

league - A unit of distance measuring three miles.

lee - The side opposite that on which the wind blows.

line - A rope.

list - To cause to lean to one side.

loaded to the gunwalls - To be full, sometimes with drink.

log – The record of a ship's speed and position.

long boat - the largest boat carried by a ship.

lookout - A person posted to keep watch.

loot - Stolen goods or money.

Go to Pirate Talk M to Z

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October 08, 2007