Pirate Lingo
Brush up on your “Pirate Talk” with these helpful pirate phrases.
| 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 Hands on Deck! | Everyone touch the 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 |