Pirate Lingo

Brush up on your “Pirate Talk” with these helpful pirate phrases. Before you come aboard the Sea Dragon, it might be fun to learn some pirate vocabulary words that will make it even more fun to enjoy your time spent with Pirate Voyages in Ocean City, NJ. FEEL FREE TO USE OUR LIST, but please REFERENCE OUR SITE if you do. Otherwise, “ye’ll walk the plank!” Aaaarrrrggghh!

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!!
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 boat
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	Spanish coins in pirate treasures
Pillage	Rob, ransack or plunder
Piracy	Robbery performed at sea, often to another ship
Plunder	Take booty or burglarize
Poop deck	(Not the toilet!) This is a part of the ship above the Captain’s headquarters at the farthest point back
Privateer	Government-appointed pirates
Red Ensign	British Flag
>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
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 cheery expression to get someone’s attention