Books and Stories

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

main sheet - The rope that controls the angle at which a mainsail set. 

man-of-war - A vessel designed for battle.

maroon - To abandon in a deserted place.

matey - A way to address a team mate (or fellow pirate).

me - My.

mutiny - To rise against the captain of a ship.

Nelson's folly - Rum.

parley - A discussion between opposing sides during a dispute.

Pieces of Eight - Spanish silver coins.

pillage - To steal by force.

piracy - Robbery committed at sea.

pirate - One who robs at sea or plunders the land from the sea.

plunder - To rob.

poop deck - The highest deck at the stern of a large ship.

port - A place to dock a ship. Or the left side of the ship when facing forward.

quarter – mercy offered by pirates.

quarterdeck - The after part of the upper deck of a ship.

red ensign - A British flag.

reef - An underwater obstruction.

reef sails - To take in or reduce sails, typically in bad weather.

rigging - The ropes used to support the masts.

rum - An intoxicating drink made from sugar cane.

run a shot across the bow - To fire a warning shot.

scallywag - A mischievous person.

schooner - A fore-and-aft rigged sailing vessel having at least two masts.

scuppers – Drains on the deck that allow water on deck to drain back to the sea.

scurvy - A disease

scuttle - Sink due to a hole in a ships hull.

sea legs - The ability to adjust one's balance to the motion of a ship.

sheet - A rope.

shiver me timbers! - Wow, or how about that! - a saying of surprise.

shrouds - Ropes or wire cables that support the mast.

sink me! - That's amazing! 

six pounders – Cannons that shoot six pound cannon balls.

sloop - A single-masted sailing boat.

smartly - Quickly.

Spanish Main - Lands taken by Spain from Mexico to Peru including the Caribbean islands.

spike - To render a gun useless.

splice the main brace - To have a drink or perhaps several drinks.

spyglass - A telescope.

square-rigged - Fitted with square sails as the principal sails.

starboard - The right side of the ship when you are facing forward.

stern - The rear part of a ship.

strike colors - To lower a ships flag as a signal of surrender.

swab - To clean.

tack – To sail close to the wind, usually in a zig-zag fashion.

tackle - A system of ropes and blocks for raising and lowering stuff.

transom – The wooden beams forming the stern of a ship.

walk the plank – Force off the ship into the water (usually to drown).

warp - To move by hauling on a line.

weigh anchor - To bring up the anchor.

yard - A long tapering spar to support a sail.

ye - You.

Yellow Jack - A yellow flag flown to indicate sickness on board a ship.

yo-ho-ho - Well look at that! - an exclamation associated with pirates.

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               October 08, 2007