Arrr, Me Mateys - here's a Pirate Dictionary fer ye

ABAFT
Toward the back of the boat

AHOY
Hey, what’s up

ALL HANDS ON DECK
Everyone, rush to the deck

ARRRRR!
Yes, I agree or absolutely.  Or what a pirate might say when pillaging, 
plundering and raiding.  Basically, this can be used whenever a pirate feels 
like it!  Arrrrr!

AVAST, YE
Stop and pay attention - check this out!

AYE, AYE
A note of comprehension like yes sir!

BARKER
Nickname for a pistol

BELAY
Either means to tie something down or pirates use it to say stop what you are 
doing - ‘belay that!’

BILGE RAT
The bilge is the lowest part of the ship with slimy, filthy water with rats living 
nearby and is used as a derogatory term for a pirate

BLACK SPOT
A death threat among pirates by making a black spot/smudge on a scrap of 
paper with maybe another saying or picture on the other side

BOOTY
Coins, gold, jewels, other plunder and treasures that pirates stole

CACKLE FRUIT
Chicken eggs

DANCE THE HEMPEN JIG
To be hanged with rope (the ropes were often made of hemp fibers)

DAVY JONES’ LOCKER
Imaginary place at the bottom of the ocean that imprisons dead sailors and 
pirates

DEAD MAN’S CHEST
A pirate’s coffin

DEAD MEN
Empty liquor bottles - the spirit’s left them

DUFFLE
Everything a sailor owns including his bag

ENTERN
To capture a ship

FLOTSAM
Goods found floating around unclaimed in the sea

GENTLEMAN OF FORTUNE
An upperclass pirate

GIBBET
A cage for displaying hanged pirates - to discourage piracy

GROG
Pirate drink made from a mixture of water and rum - rum was an antiseptic and 
helped to hide the nastiness of the spoiled, slimy water at sea

HEMPEN HALTER
Hangman’s noose

HORNSWAGGLE
To cheat someone- often of money or belongings

I’LL CRUSH YE BARNACLES
I’ll beat you up!

JACOB’S LADDER
The rope ladder used to climb aboard the ship

JETSAM
Unclaimed wreckage floating in the sea - thrown overboard

JOLLY ROGER
The most recognized pirate’s flag decorated with a skull and crossbones

LAND LUBBER
Non-seamen living on land or sailors not highly skilled for life on the sea

LETTER OF MARQUEE
A letter issued by a government to a privateer giving them permission to 
legally attack an enemy merchant ship, warship or nation

MAROON
To strand someone on a deserted island

MATEY
A friend

MUTINY
Conspiracy among members of the pirate crew to rebell against and ultimately 
overthrow the captain

OGGIN
Slang term for the sea

PILLAGE / PLUNDER
Pirate looting - stealing everything in sight during a raid such as food, clothes, 
household items, tools

POOP DECK    
The deck the furthest and highest back - typically above the cap’n’s quarters

POWDER MONKEY
A gunner’s assistant

PRIZE
A captured ship

SAVVY?
Do you understand?

SCUPPER CLASS
Lower class pirate

SCUTTLEBUTT
Slang term for rumors

SEA RAT
Slang term for a pirate

SHIVER ME TIMBERS
An expression of shock or disbelief - used typically when a ship is hit during 
combat with another ship

SKEDADDLE
To sneak away

SWAB
A piece of dirty rag

SWEET TRADE
Phrase referring to piracy

‘SWING THE LEAD’
A lead weight swung from a line into water when near shore to measure depth 
- later used for a term for ‘slacking off’

WALK THE PLANK
A forced jump off of a board extended from the side of the ship into shark 
infested waters

WEIGH ANCHOR
Leave, get ready to sail away

YO, HO, HO
Expression of happiness