Arrrrrrrg:
“This is disgusting!” or "I want your full attention!"
Ahoy!
Universal Hello at sea.
Avast
“Stop what you’re doing and listen up!”
Aye
Yes
Aye-Aye
“I’ll get right to it.”
Batten down the hatches
“Secure everything that can move."
Belay it
“Knock it off" ... "Stop" ... "Cancel that last command"
Bilge
The lowest part of the boat where all the crud collects.
Bilge Scum
The slimy, goo-like substance created by collected bilge crud; also an unflattering
term used to characterize a truly despicable person, class of people or their vocation.
Bilge-talk
Mocking, disparaging and often profane vocabulary
Blimey!
Expressing extreme surprise or annoyance
Bloody
The very worst oath in pirate vernacular, as in “Yer bloody cannonball took off me leg!”
Blow me down!
Expression of extreme surprise.
Blow the man down
“Shorten one's life by accelerating the inevitable.”
Booty
Loot ... stolen ... strategically relocated items - preferably gold and jewels
Buccaneer
A pirate with attitude. A snob who thinks he’s hot stuff.
Black Spotted
Extreme black-balling or sentenced to death.
Cat O’ Nine Tails
A flogging device with nine separate thongs, each having a small lead ball at the tip.
Crow's Nest
Standing platform near the top of a mast ... or where a large black bird lays its eggs.
Davy Jones' Locker
The bottom of the sea, where the bones of seamen lie.
Deadlights
Yer Eyes
Dead men tell no tales
“Kill‘em all and let God sort um' out!”
Gangway!
“Stand aside, or I’ll run ye over.”
Hang the jib
To snivel or pout
Hang 'im from the yardarm
“Truss ‘im up and let ‘im rot in the sun.”
Head
This is a modern term. Real pirate ships didn’t have toilets. That’s why they
made gunnels' and there's a Poop Deck.
Heave Ho
“Take a strain.”
Heave To
“Luff your sails and cease headway or we’ll fire a shot across yer bow.”
Hempen Halter
Hangman’s noose.
Hornswaggle
To cheat, dissemble and lie - a characteristic of bad or dishonorable Pirates!
Jack o’ Coins
Ship's quartermaster
Jack o’ Cups
First Mate
Jack o’ Staves
First Lieutenant
Jack o’ Swords
Bosun
Jack Ketch
The hangman - a common seaman
Jolly Roger
Skull and crossbones flag: Black means “Surrender your ship.” Red means “No quarter”
Keelhaul
The practice of dragging unclothed miscreants across the thwarts and barnacle
embedded keel of a vessel.
Landlubber
An awkward, overweight, out of shape human being with nothing much going for them ...
Marooned
Abandoned. Left alone on land or sea.
Matey
See “Me Hearties”
Me hearties
A gathering of pirates made congenial by copious quantities of grog before the inevitable brawl erupts.
Pieces of eight
Spanish silver dollars, real de ochos, on which the US dollar was based.
Pillage
Rob, sack, plunder, take without one's knowledge or consent.
Poop deck
The second story equivalent of a “head."
Powder Monkey
The youngest and dumbest crew member whose responsibility it is to handle volatile gunpowder in battle.
Privateer
Another high-falutin' name for a pirate - one having social aspirations.
Run a shot across the bow
“A warning to strike your colors or be blown to smithereens.”
Scallywag
A young pirate, analogous to a pollywog.
Scurvy
(see Bilge Scum)
Scuttle
To destroy a ship by fire or creating holes in the ship's hull.
Seadog
A veteran pirate and/or his foot.
Shark bait
On one’s way to Davy Jones' Locker.
Shipshape
Neat and orderly. A condition rarely seen on a true pirate vessel
Shiver me timbers!
Comparable to "Holy Crap!"
Smartly
Quickly! Now!
Splice the Mainbrace!
“Partaking in an adult beverage!”
Sprogs
Kids or pirates-in-training
Squiffy
A clown
Three sheets to the wind
Sloshed. Way too much grog!
Walk the plank
A long walk on a short board with the sea and the sharks below!
Ye
You!
also known as "Arrrrguneese" or "Pirateese" ... is the official language spoken by true Pirates ... so before boarding any Pirate ship, it’s important that you acquaint yourself with the language that allows you to understand and effectively communicate with other Pirate shipmates. The words and phrases LISTED BELOW will help you to quickly master “Pirate Speak” and communicate like an authentic marauding low-life sea dog.
(SCROLL DOWN FOR DEFINITIONS)
"PIRATE SPEAK"
WishCruise PIRATES making a difference in lives of seriously ill kids. ...
Some of the images used in this website are courtesy of Black Dragon Cruises, Port Isabel, TX www.blackdragoncruises.com
"Build it ... and they will come!"
