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The Pirate
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A
Abaft- to the stern, or
the rear of the ship
Abeam- at right angles to
the keel of the ship
Ablation- surgical
amputation
Aboard- on or in a ship
Aboveboard- on deck
Abraham’s bosom- heaven
Abreast- side by side
Abscond- to run away with
stolen goods
Absinthe- liquor made of
brandy and wormwood
Accord- agreement
Acquiesce- to agree
tactfully
Admiral- the commander of
a fleet
Adrift-floating at the
mercy of the tide, wind, and circumstances
Aft- the naval term
meaning to the stern (or rearward), of a ship
Aground- a ship stranded
on the ground
Ahoy- a term for hailing
Alee- on the lee or
sheltered side of a ship
Amble- a gentle gait
Amnesty- a general pardon
Anchor- a large, hooked
cast-iron metal object used to keep the ship from moving
in shallow water. An anchor was attached to the ship by
a thick cable, usually hemp rope, to the capstan or “niggerhead”.
When lowered it is merely “dropped”, but when raised
it is “weighed”.
Antemeridian- before noon
Antiscorbutic-
counteracting scurvy
Aport- to the left or port
side of a ship
Archipelago- any sea or
body of salt water interspersed with numerous islands
Argosy- a large, richly
freighted ship or fleet of ships
Arrear- overdue
Article- a formal
agreement or written treaty
Ascendant- above the
horizon
Ashore: not on ship
Astern- to the stern, or
the rear of the ship
Atoll- the outer ring of
coral surrounding a basin or lagoon
Auger- a tool for boring
holes
Avast- nautical term for
stop: used only in the imperative
Awl- a tool for making
holes in heavy cloth or leather
Aye- affirmative
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B
Barque: three masted
sailing ship, with a square rigged mainmast and a
fore-and-aft rigged mizzen
Barrel: a hollow
cylindrical container traditionally made of wood staves
and bound with iron hoops. Someone who makes such
barrels is known as a cooper
Bar Shot: a type of
ammunition formed of two sub-caliber balls, or
half-balls, held together by an iron bar. They were used
in naval warfare to shoot down yards, masts, or to cut
the shrouds, or any other rigging of a ship. After
leaving the muzzle, they would tumble in the air.
However, the tumbling made chain shot less accurate, so
it was used at shorter ranges
Belaying Pin: a device
used on traditional sailing vessels to secure lines. It
was also used as an improvised bludgeoning device
Bilges: the compartment at
the bottom of the hull of a ship or boat where water
collects so that it may be pumped out of the vessel at a
later time
Black Powder: the original
form of gunpowder
Boarding Axe: an axe with
about a two foot handle used for cutting rigging and
planking when boarding another ship
Boat: a vessel designed to
float on, and provide transport over, water
Boatswain: a subordinate
officer of a ship in charge of the hull, rigging, and
related matters. It was the Boatswain’s duty to dole
out daily duties and keep the ship in working order
Boom: a spar that extends
the foot of a sail
Bowline: rope attached to
the side of a sail to pull it forward
Bowsprit: long, tapered
spar extending from the bow of a ship, used to attach
stays for the masts
Brigantine: a two masted
vessel, with a square rigged foremast and a fore-and-aft
rigged mainmast
Broadside: the side of a
ship, the battery of cannon on one side of a warship, or
the simultaneous (or near simultaneous) fire in naval
warfare
Buccaneer: a pirate
operating in the West Indies from around 1600 to around
1700. The term comes from the French word boucane, which
was a wood fire used to smoke the flesh of wild cattle
from the region. Originally these pirates were natives
or disgruntled sailors
Buffer: Boatswain’s mate
in charge of discipline
Bumboat: a boat privately
selling merchandise to sailors in the harbor
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C
Cabin Boy: a boy acting as
a servant aboard ship
Cable: a large rope
Cannon: any large tubular
firearm designed to fire a heavy projectile over a long
distance. Aboard naval vessels cannon were stored on
carriages
Cannonball: any number of
types of “shot” that were fired from cannon
Capstan: vertical cylinder
that rotates to bring in anchor and other cable; also
known as the “niggerhead”
Captain: an officer in
charge of a ship during times of chasing or being
chased. The Captain was an elected leader of the crew,
but could be voted out of office, or a mutiny could also
depose him. If a sailor broke a ship’s article the
captain could recommend punishment, but the crew would
vote on what the punishment would be. Pirate Captains
also helped navigate and pilot a ship.
Careen: to lean a ship
over on its side on the beach in order to clean and
repair her hull
Carpenter: a skilled
craftsman in charge of ship’s repairs. Aboard a pirate
ship he would also be in charge of any modifications to
the boat to make it better suit the crew’s needs. This
would often include adding gun ports, removing for and
aft castles, and clearing any unneeded walls in order to
add more crew or cannon. Also known as a Shipwright
Cascabel: a knob at the
end of a cannon, cast onto the gun-barrel, to which
ropes are attached. Aboard ships this kept the cannon
from rolling too far back
Cat o’ Nine Tails: a
type of multi-tailed whipping device that originated as
an implement for severe physical punishment
Chain Shot: a type of
ammunition formed of two sub-caliber balls, or
half-balls, chained together. They were used in naval
warfare to shoot down yards, masts, or to cut the
shrouds, or any other rigging of a ship. After leaving
the muzzle, they would tumble in the air. This caused
the chain shot to fully extend. As much as six feet of
chain would sweep through the target. However, the
tumbling made chain shot less accurate, so it was used
at shorter ranges.
Cooper: a barrel maker
Corsair: a pirate
operating from the Mediterranean and the African coast.
Mostly they were Muslims acting with sanction to harass
Christian pilgrims, and the most infamous were from the
Barberry Coast
Crimp: one who has been
put into service by a press gang
Cutlass: a short, thick
saber or slashing sword, with a straight or slightly
curved blade sharpened on the cutting edge, and a hilt
often featuring a solid cupped or basket-shaped guard.
Best known as the sailor's weapon of choice, or the
naval side arm, likely because it was also robust enough
to hack through heavy ropes, canvas, and wood
Cutter: a small vessel with
one mast
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D
Dagger: a typically
double-edged blade used for stabbing or thrusting. They
often are used as a secondary weapon in close combat, or
utility tool
Deck: a floor or level of
a ship
Deckhand: a seaman who
performs manual duties
Draft: the minimum depth
necessary to keep a ship afloat
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E
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F
Fathom: six
feet of water (depth measurement)
Forward:
towards the stem of the ship
Freebooter: a
pirate or rum-runner operating on the Eastern coast of
North America
Frigate: a
fully rigged, three masted ship with 28 to 38 pound guns
Furl: to roll
a sail close to the yard, stay, or mast to which it
belongs
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G
Gaff:
the spar that holds upper edge of a fore-and-aft sail
which has four sides
Gallows:
a structure used for hanging criminals
Gibbet:
a gallows-type structure from which the dead
bodies of executed criminals were hung on public display
to deter other existing or potential criminals. It can
also be used as a verb, denoting the action of placing
criminals in gibbets. This practice is also called
"hanging in chains". Pirates were sometimes
executed by hanging on a gibbet erected close to the
low-water mark by the sea or a tidal section of a river.
Their bodies would be left dangling until they had been
submerged by the tide three times
Gun
deck: The deck amid ship used for storing cannon and
carriages for use during broadsides
Gunner: a
petty officer in charge of cannons and cannon crew. He
and the cannon crews were charged with maintaining all
firing weapons owned by the ship, and watching
ammunitions and powder supplies
Grape
Shot: instead of solid shot, a mass of loosely
packed metal slugs is loaded into a canvas bag.
Grapeshot can also be improvised from links of chain,
shards of glass, rocks, etc. On firing, the balls spread
out from the muzzle at high velocity, giving an effect
similar to a shotgun but scaled up to cannon size. Upon
impact with a person, debris could go flying and become
secondary projectiles. This effect was especially
devastating against densely massed troops, where
high-velocity bone fragments could greatly magnify the
number of casualties.
Grog: an
alcoholic beverage made with water and rum. Modern
versions of the drink are often made with hot or boiling
water, and sometimes include lemon juice, lime juice,
cinnamon or sugar to improve the taste. Rum with water,
sugar and nutmeg was known as Bumboo and was more
popular with pirates and merchantmen.
Go on
the Account: to take up piracy, or sail as a pirate for
prizes
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| H
Heave to: an
order to stop
Helmsman: the
man at the ship’s wheel or whip staff
Hull: the
body or frame of a ship
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| I
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| J
Jack o’
Coins: paymaster
Jack o’
Cups: a nickname for the First mate
Jack o’
Staves: a nickname for the First lieutenant
Jack o’
Swords: a nickname for the Boatswain
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| K
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| L
Landlubber: a
term for one unfamiliar with life at sea
Lanyard: rope
that ties something off
League: three
miles
Lee/ Leeward:
(pronounced “loe” and "loe-ard") facing
against the wind. If the vessel is heeling under the
pressure of the wind, this will be the "lower
side".
List: lean to
one side
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| M
Mainmast:
principle mast
Marlin Spike:
a tool used to unlay rope for splicing, or to untie
knots. Also a favorite improvised weapon for mutineers
Messdeck
Lawyer: a “know it all” or “popinjay”
Midshipman:
non-commissioned rank below lieutenant
Mizzen: mast
closest to the stern on a three masted vessel
Musket: a
muzzle-loaded, smoothbore, long gun, which is intended
to be fired from the shoulder
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| N
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| O
Old Coat (aka
“Stripy”): veteran sailor
Old Salt: a
teller of sea stories
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| P
Peg Boy: a
slang term for a young male prostitute, referring to an
alleged naval practice of enlisting a young boy solely
for the sexual gratification of the crew, and seating
him on a peg to keep him "loose"
Pipe: a large
barrel that holds 126 gallons of liquid
Pinnace:
small two masted vessel or an eight oared ship’s boat
Pirate: one
who commits acts of robbery on the high seas or plunders
the land from sea
Pistol: a
firearm designed to be held in the hand when used
Poopdeck: a
deck that constitutes the roof of a poop cabin built in
the aft (rear) part of the superstructure of a ship
Popinjay: a
braggart
Port: the
left side of a ship
Powder Horn:
a device used to carry black powder, generally created
from a cow or buffalo horn
Powder
Monkey: a young boy in charge of running powder to the
cannons
Press Gang:
the act of conscripting into naval service; also, those
who conscripted
Privateer: an
armed man or vessel commissioned by a government to
cruise against enemy vessels, either of a military,
merchant, or privately owned nature. Privateers were
recognized by a letter of mark
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| Q
Quarter: the
portion of the side of the ship, nearest to the stern;
also, the act of mercy shown to an enemy
Quartermaster:
an officer who attends a ships binnacle and signals.
Aboard a pirate ship the Quartermaster also was the
representative of the crew to the Captain. The
Quartermaster was usually the man to deal out
punishments, and would lead crew aboard enemy vessels in
times of action
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| R
Rapier: a
relatively thin, long-bladed sword characterized by a
complex hilt constructed to provide protection for the
hand wielding it. While the blade might be suitable for
slashing, the strength of the rapier is its ability as a
quick thrusting weapon
Reef: rolling
up the bottom of a sail and tying it with short lines
attached to the sail in order to shorten it
Rigging:
ropes, chains, and wires that hold masts, spars, and
yards and control a ship’s movement
Round Shot:
the most accurate projectile that could be fired by a
smooth-bore cannon, used to batter the wooden hulls of
opposing ships, forts, or fixed emplacements, and as a
long-range anti-personnel weapon
Rumrunner: an
individual or group involved in the illegal trafficking
of bootleg alcohol
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| S
Saber:
a curved or straight single bladed sword of varying
length, usually with a large hand-guard
Salty
Dog: an experienced sailor
Scuppers:
holes in deck near the bulwarks used for drainage
Sheet:
line attached to the bottom aft corner of a sail, used
to adjust it to the wind
Ship’s
Articles: a contract drawn between the members of a
pirate crew dictating behaviors, rules, and how spoil
would be split
Ship’s
Cook: as well as preparing meals, the cook was also in
charge of watching the stores of food and water
Shipmate:
a term for a fellow sailor
Ship’s
Wheel: a wheel connecting to the rudder that allowed
steering
Ship’s
Wife: a term for a prostitute or mistress that would
accompany sailors aboard
Shipworm:
a worm-like mollusk that eats wood.
Shrouds:
standing rigging running from side of the ship, used to
support the mast
Skipper:
from the Dutch Schipper, a master of a boat.
Derived from the term schip, meaning a vessel
Sloop:
single masted sailing vessel with fore-and-aft rigging.
Sloops were often favored by pirates for their speed,
maneuverability, and shallow draw.
Squadron:
group of no more than ten warships
Square
Rigged: four cornered sails hung from yards
Starboard:
the right side of a ship
Start:
a strike from a rope or cane, used as punishment for
sailors believed to be slacking
Stiletto:
a long, narrow-bladed dagger. This dagger is designed as
a stabbing weapon, rather than for cutting, since its
long narrow shape allows it to penetrate deeply in a
point
Strike
the Colors: to lower a ship’s flag as a sign of
surrender
Sweet
Trade: a slang term for piracy
Swivel
Gun: a small cannon, mounted on a swiveling stand or
fork which allows a very wide arc of movement
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| T
Tackle:
ropes and blocks
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| U
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| V
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| W
Weevil:
a type of beetle. Aboard ships they were a nuisance as
they could spoil the grain supply
Weigh:
to raise (as in “anchors aweigh!”)
Whip
Staff: a pole connected to the rudder for steering, used
before the advent of the ship’s wheel
Windward:
facing the wind
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| X
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| Y
Yard/
Yard Arm: a spar attached to a mast
to carry a sail
Yawl:
small sailing boat or four oared ship’s boat
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| Z
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