Pirates <br />&#8203;on the PanHandle
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Pirates <br />&#8203;on the PanHandle

A FEW OF THE MORE COMMON PIRATE TERMS

Picture
Aaaarrrrgggghhhh! - exhortation of discontent or disgust

Ahoy! - Hello!

Ahoy, Matey - Hello, my friend!

Ahoy, me Hearties! - the same as saying "Hello, my friends!"

All hand hoay! - comparable to all hands on deck

Avast ye - stop and check this out or pay attention

Aye - yes

Batten down the hatches - put everything away on the ship and tie everything down because a storm is brewing

Bilge-sucking - insult

Blimey! - exhortation of surprise

Blow me down! - expression of shock of disbelief akin to "Holy Crap!"

Blow the man down! - command to kill someone

Booty - treasure

Buccaneer - a pirate

Bucko - a buccaneer

Cat O'Nine Tails - a whip with nine strands

Cleave him to the brisket - to cut across the chest, from one shoulder to the lower abdomen

Corsair - Pirates in the Mediterranean Sea

Crow's nest - small platform atop the mast where the lookout stands

Cutlass - short heavy curved bladed sword used by Pirates

Davy Jones' Locker - fabled, mythical place at the bottom of the ocean where the evil spirit of Davy Jones brings sailors and Pirates to die

Dead men tell no tales! - phrase indicating to leave no survivors

Doubloons - other coins or found in pirate hoards and stashes

Feed the fish - will soon die

Hang 'im from the Yardarm - punishment of those captured in battle

Head - the Pirate ship's toilet

Heave Ho - give it some muscle and push it

Hempen Halter - a noose for hanging

Hornswaggle - to defraud or cheat out of money or belongings

Jacob's Ladder - the rope ladder one uses to climb aboard a sloop

Jolly Roger - Pirate's flag including white skull and crossbones over a black field

Keelhaul - punishment in which a person where dragged underneath the Pirate ship from side to side and was lacerated by the barnacles on the vessel

Lad, lass, lassie - a younger person

Landlubber - a big, slow clumsy person who doesn't know how to sail

Letters of Marque - letters issue from government(s) during wartime to privateers endorsing the piracy of another vessel

Man-O-War - Pirate's ship outfitted for battle

Me - my

Mizzen - third mast from the bow of the ship, on ships that have three or more masts

Old Salt - an experienced sailor

Pieces of Eight - coins found in Pirate stashes

Pillage - rob, sack or plunder

Poop deck - the part of the ship farthest to the back, which is usually above the captain's quarters. This is NOT the bathroom.

Privateer - government-sponsored pirates

Rum - Pirate's traditional alcoholic beverage

Run a shot across the bow - warning shot to another vessel's captain

Savvy? - do you understand and do you agree?

Scallywag - mild insult akin to rapscallion or rogue

Scurvy dog - the Pirate is talking directly to you with mild insult

Scuttle - to sink a ship

Seadog - old Pirate or sailor

Shark bait - will soon join Davy Jones' Locker

Shipshape - cleaned up and under control

Shiver me Timbers! - comparable to "Holy Crap!"

Son of a Biscuit Eater - insult directed towards someone you don't like

Splice the Mainbrace! - give the crew a drink!

Thar she blows! - a Whale sighting

Three sheets to the wind! - someone who is very drunk. One sheet is mildly drunk and four sheets is passed out.

Walk the plank - punishment in which person walks off a board jutting over the side of the ship while at sea. The consequence is drowning and a visit to Davy Jones' Locker.

Weigh anchor and hoist the mizzen! - pull up the anchor and the sail and let's get going

Ye - you

​Yo Ho Ho - cheerful exhortation to demand attention