Word Definition
Ahoy! = Hi! Hello!
Avast! = stop; cease.
"a sailor is expected to keep hauling until the mate hollers ‘Avast!’"
abaft = toward or at the stern of a ship; further aft
astern = at the stern of a ship
dodger = shield against rain or spray on a ship's bridge

http://phrontistery.info/nautical.html

Edited on 21-11-2020 07:47

Talk like a Prate!

Talk like a Pirate:

It all begins with the pronouns. Say "ye" instead of "you," as in "How are ye feeling today?" And use "me" in place of the first-person possessives, such as "I just ate me breakfast," or 'Take your hands off me booty!'

When in doubt, say 'G'yaaaarrrrrrr.' Make sure to roll the "R."

Don't confuse 'Ahoy' (a greeting, like "hello") with "Avast" (technically means "stop," but often used as an interjection, like "hey," as if to say "stop what you're doing, I have something to say"). Nothing angers a real pirate like a wannabe who says "Avast" when he really means 'Ahoy.'

Say 'aye' in place of yes, but don't say "nay" in place of no - not unless you want to talk like a pirate politician.

And whenever possible, use these helpful vocabulary words:

Booty - Refers to any ill-gotten goods swiped from another party (especially jewelry, cash and wedding silverware).

Briny deep - Depending on context, this usually means the ocean.

Bunghole - The opening in a cask of beer or rum that is plugged with a cork or stopper. Use this word sparingly.

Cap'n - Abbreviated form of 'captain.' A term of respect.

Davy Jones' Locker - Refers to a grave at the bottom of the sea.

Grog - Techincally, it's diluted rum, although you can use the word to refer to just about any alcoholic concoction. The more grog a pirate consumes, the less he sweats the finer semantic details.

Landlubber - A weak-willed ninny who doesn't have the courage needed to brave the briny deep (referring to the ocean).

Jolly Roger - Pirate flag featuring a skull and crossbones. Can also be referred to as the Angry Codger.

Keelhauling - is a form of punishment and potential execution once meted out to sailors at sea. The sailor was tied to a line looped beneath the vessel, thrown overboard on one side of the ship, and dragged under the ship's keel, either from one side of the ship to the other, or the length of the ship.

Matey - A good friend.

'No quarter!' - This means 'We won't accept surrender!' 'We wont give in!'

Pillage - If used as a verb, it means to rob and loot ('We'll pillage the town!').

Poop deck - Top deck on a large ship. If you don't have a ship, you can use this phrase to refer to the room over the garage.

Salt (or Old Salt) - An experienced sailor.

Scurvy - Derogatory adjective meaning lowly or disgusting, as in 'Stand back, ye scurvy dog!'

'Shiver me timbers!'- An expression shouted at moments of surprise.

Swab - To mop or clean something.

Walking the plank - A manner of execution whereby a pirate makes a person walk on a wooden plank until he falls off into the briny deep.

'Yo ho ho!'- Pirate interjection expressing great joy. Repeated at increasing volume during the ingestion of grog.

Aaaarrrrgggghhhh! - Pirate catch phrase of grumbling or disgust

Ahoy! - Hello!

Ahoy, Matey - Hello, my friend!

Ahoy, Me Hearties! - Hello, my friends, crew members, etc.; addressed to group

All Hand Hoy! - Everyone get on deck!

Avast Ye - Pay attention and check this out!

Aye - Yes

Aye, Aye - A crew member says this to the Captain, meaning “I will get that done right away!”

Batten Down The Hatches - Tie everything down and put stuff away for a coming storm.

Bilge-Sucking - An insulting expression of disdain

Blimey! - Surprise, shock

Blow me down! - Phrase of amazement or shock
Blow The Man Down - The Captain’s command to get rid of a person

Booty - A treasure

Bounty - A reward for capturing a known criminal, such as a pirate

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 - a pirate, same as a buccaneer

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 sailors or pirates in unison, while they work

Chase - A vessel that is being pursued

Chase Gun - The main cannon at the bow of a ship

Clap of Thunder - Strong, alcoholic drink, like a shot

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

Corsair Pirates - from the Mediterranean

Crack Jenny’s Teacup - Term for spending the night with a prostitute

Crow's Nest - A small lookout platform near the mast to see long distances

Cutlass - A thick, heavy and rather short sword blade 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 piratesfind

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 of a person

Galley - Flat ship propelled manually by oars

Gangplank - Removable ramp between the pier and 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 - Someone with a red nose from drinking too frequently, alcoholic

Hands - Crew members or sailors of a ship

Hang ‘Emfrom the Yardarm - Type of punishment served to a prisoner

Hang the Jib - Frown or pout

Head - Potty or toilet on a pirate ship

Hearties - Friends, fellow comrades or sailors

Heave Ho - Put your weight and muscle into it

Heave To - Stop!!

Hornswaggle - Cheat or defraud someone out of assets or money

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

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 - Spanish coins in pirate treasures

Pillage - Rob, ransack or plunder

Piracy - Robbery performed at sea, often to another ship

Plunder - Take booty or burglarize

Privateer - Government-appointed pirates

Rum - Pirate's favorite alcoholic beverage

Run a Rig - Play a joke or a trick on someone

Run a Shot Across the Bow - Warning shot given to another boat's Captain

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 rookie pirates

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 boat for a long time

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

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

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 cheery expression to get someone’s attention

Why is a ship's kitchen called a Galley?

A galley kitchen is a long, narrow kitchen layout characterized by having two parallel walls of kitchen cabinets. This kitchen layout gets its name from the cooking area on a large ship, known as a galley.