Pirate Lingo

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.