Moving forward I plan to use a lot more Pirate terminology on the YouTube channel. Just because life’s too short not to take advantage of the simple little pleasures.
In case anyone is looking for a key here you go.
| Aaarrrr | All purpose Pirate catch phrase. |
| Ahoy! | Hello! |
| Ahoy, Matey | Hello, my friend! |
| Ahoy, Me Hearties! | Hello, my friends, crew members, people in the chat. |
| All Hands Hoy! | Everyone get on deck! |
| Avast Ye | Pay attention and check this out! |
| Aye | Yes |
| Aye, Aye | Yes, will do! |
| Batten Down The Hatches | Tie everything down and prepare for an incoming storm. |
| Bilge-Sucking | An insulting expression of disdain. |
| Blimey! | Surprised, shocked. |
| Blow me down! | Phrase of amazement. |
| Blow The Man Down | The Captain’s command to kill (or get rid of) a person. |
| Booty | Treasure. |
| Bounty | A reward. |
| Bring a Spring Upon ‘er | Turn the ship in a different direction. |
| Broadside | The most vulnerable angle of a ship that runs the length of the boat. |
| Buccaneer | A pirate. |
| Bucko | Friend, or fellow crew member. |
| Carouser | Reckless or loud person who drinks excessively. |
| Cat O’Nine Tails | A special kind of whip that has 9 strands. |
| Chantey | Song sung together by pirates in unison, while they work. |
| Chase | A vessel is being pursued. |
| Chase Gun | The main cannon at the bow of a ship. |
| Clap of Thunder | Strong, alcoholic drink. |
| Cleave Him to the Brisket | An order to kill a man by cutting across his chest from the shoulders to stomach. |
| Clipper | Fast-moving boat or ship. |
| Coffer | The treasure chest. |
| Cog | Smaller war ship |
| Crack Jenny’s Teacup | Term for spending the night with a prostitute. |
| Crow’s Nest | A small lookout platform near the top of the mast to see long distances. |
| Cutlass | A thick, heavy and rather short sword for pirates. |
| Davy Jones’ Locker | A mystical fable about an evil spirit from the bottom of the ocean that draws pirates or sailors down to their death. |
| Dead Men Tell No Tales | An expression meaning no survivors left behind. |
| Doubloons | Types of Spanish gold coins. |
| Fathom | Six feet. |
| Feed the Fish | About to die. |
| Fire in the Hole | Warning given to crew before a cannon is fired. |
| Flogging | Severe beating. |
| Galley | Ship’s Kitchen |
| Gangplank | Removable ramp between the pier and the ship. |
| Go on Account | A phrase pirates used to say they were turning into a pirate. |
| Grog | Rum or liquor diluted by water. |
| Grog Blossom | An alcoholic. |
| Hands | Crew members of a ship. |
| Hang ‘Emfrom the Yardarm | Type of punishment served to a prisoner. |
| Hang the Jib | Frown or pout. |
| Head | Toilet on a pirate ship. |
| Hearties | Friends, fellow comrades or sailors. |
| Heave Ho | Put your weight and muscle into it. |
| Heave To | Stop! |
| Hempen Halter | A rope hanging noose. |
| Hornswaggle | Cheat or defraud someone out of assets or money. |
| Jack | Flag flown at the front of ship to show nationality. |
| Jack Ketch | The hangman. “Dance with Jack Ketch” means to hang. |
| Jacob’s Ladder | A rope ladder used to climb aboard a ship. |
| Jolly Roger | Black pirate flag with white skull and crossbones. |
| Keelhaul | Painful punishment whereby the pirates drag a person side-to-side under the pirate ship and they get cut up by the planks and barnacles from the bottom of the ship. |
| Killick | Small, stone anchor with a wooden frame. |
| Lad, lass, lassie | A kid or young person. |
| Landlubber | An inexperienced or clumsy person who doesn’t have any sailing skills. |
| Letters of Marque | Government-issued letters allowing privateers the right to piracy of another ship during wartime. |
| Lookout | The pirate who keeps watch for land or oncoming ships. |
| Loot | Stolen money or belongings. |
| Man-O-War | A pirate ship that is decked out and prepared for battle. |
| Maroon | Leave someone stranded on a deserted island with no supplies, which was a common punishment for any crew members who disrespected or dishonored the Captain. |
| Marooned | To be abandoned with no food, drink, or possessions. |
| Me | My |
| Mizzen | The 3rd mast from the ship’s bow of bigger ships. |
| Mutiny | When crew gang up against the Captain of the ship or other authority. |
| No Prey, No Pay | The ship’s crew received no wages; however they got a part of the loot or treasure. |
| Old Salt | Experienced pirate or sailor. |
| Pieces of eight | Coins. |
| Pillage | Rob, ransack or plunder. |
| Piracy | Robbery performed at sea, often to another ship. |
| Plunder | Take booty or burglarize. |
| Poop deck | This is a part of the ship above the Captain’s headquarters at the farthest point back. (Not the toilet!) |
| Privateer | Government-appointed pirates. |
| >Rum | Pirate’s favorite alcoholic beverage. |
| Run a Rig | Playing a joke or a trick on someone. |
| Run a Shot Across the Bow | Warning shot given to another ship. |
| Sail, Ho! | A warning that another ship is in view. |
| Savvy? | A question asking, “Do you get it?” or “Do you understand?” |
| Scallywag | A kidding type of word that a superior pirate might call one of the rookies. |
| Scourge of the 7 Seas | Pirate known as the worst kind. |
| Scurvy Dog | The pirate is calling you an insulting name. |
| Scuttle | Sink a ship. |
| Seadog | A veteran sailor or old pirate. |
| Sea Legs | When a sailor adjusts his balance from riding on a ship for a long time. |
| Shark Bait | This is what you become after you walk the plank. |
| Shipshape | The ship is managed and clean, everything is under control. |
| Shiver Me Timbers! | Something like, “Holy Cow!” a surprised or shocked expression. |
| Sink Me! | Another expression of surprise. |
| Son of a Biscuit Eater | A name or insult for someone you dislike. |
| Splice the Mainbrace! | Pass a round of drinks out to the crew. |
| Spyglass | Telescope. |
| Squiffy | Tipsy or intoxicated, shaky footing. |
| Strike Colors | Lower a ship’s flag to indicate surrender. |
| Swab | Mop or clean the ship’s deck and floorboards. |
| Take a Caulk | Take a nap. |
| Tar | Sailor, crew member. |
| Thar She Blows! | Whale sighting. |
| Three Sheets to the Wind | Very drunk, intoxicated. |
| Walk the Plank | Prisoner is ordered to walk off the board overlapping the ocean, which results in drowning and presumably a meet-up with Davy Jones Locker. |
| Weigh Anchor and Hoist the Mizzen! | An order to the crew to pull up the anchor and get this ship sailing! |
| Wench | A woman or peasant girl. |
| Ye | You. |
| Yellow Jack | When a ship flies a yellow flag, it indicates the presence of an ill crew member, such as yellow fever. But this was also a trick that smart pirates used to avoid becoming the target of another ship. |
| Yo Ho Ho! | A happy expression to get someone’s attention. |
