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DOWNLOAD PIRATE COLLECTION
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100+ pages of the real pirate story, the dictionary, lexicon and all pirate inspired words
this feature collection is available for download
100+ pages of the real pirate story, the dictionary, lexicon and all pirate inspired words
OF THE PLUNDERING PIRATES
THE PLUNDERING PIRATE STORY
the brutal truth in a real story of plundering pirates
Home ~ Pirates ~ Profiteer ~ Golden Age
Fact Check ~ Archetype ~ Glorification
Democracy ~ Equality - Pirate Code
Genre ~ Language ~ Lore ~ Narrative ~ Notables
Notorious Pirates ~ Booty ~ Captures ~ Hangings
THE PIRATE DICTIONARY
the real and invented words, terms & expressions
Home ~ Pirates ~ Captains - Crew - Punishment
Ships ~Sails ~ Flags - Navigation ~ Food ~ Booze Gear ~ Weapons ~ Slang/Expressions
THE LEXICON OF PIRATES IN OBSCURITY
the rare, unusual & obscure words related to pirates
HOME ~ [A-F] ~ [G-L] ~ [M-R] ~ [S-Z]
SEARCH THIS SITE - search site below
the brutal truth in a real story of plundering pirates
Home ~ Pirates ~ Profiteer ~ Golden Age
Fact Check ~ Archetype ~ Glorification
Democracy ~ Equality - Pirate Code
Genre ~ Language ~ Lore ~ Narrative ~ Notables
Notorious Pirates ~ Booty ~ Captures ~ Hangings
THE PIRATE DICTIONARY
the real and invented words, terms & expressions
Home ~ Pirates ~ Captains - Crew - Punishment
Ships ~Sails ~ Flags - Navigation ~ Food ~ Booze Gear ~ Weapons ~ Slang/Expressions
THE LEXICON OF PIRATES IN OBSCURITY
the rare, unusual & obscure words related to pirates
HOME ~ [A-F] ~ [G-L] ~ [M-R] ~ [S-Z]
SEARCH THIS SITE - search site below
WORDS, PHRASES, TERMS
Some Real Slang .. Some Not So Much
BROWSE DICTIONARY
THE PIRATE DICTIONARY - HOME
BONUS BOOTY - words related to pirates
view the rare, unusual and obscure words - some even obsolete - that apply to pirates, their lives and their world. Obscure words form the very foundation of this site - the dictionary is like giving you an expected wage. The lexicon is giving you a share of the best booty and the bling.
VIEW LEXICON OF PIRATES IN OBSCURITY
THE TRUTH - story of real plundering pirates
learn more about the rise of profiteering, and the pirate rebellion against authority Read their surprising adaptation to a code that formed a democracy, with equal rights, health insurance, and created a radical electoral system with the power of the vote (and yes, they could vote to kick the captain off the ship).
- A Pirate By Any Other Name (Still a Pirate)
- Scourge of the Seven Seas (Pirates/Crew)
- Turning Tricks for Treasure (Booty)
- Chowder and Lots of Grog (Food/Alcohol)
- Outfitting the Pirate Crew (Crew Gear)
- A Jig at the Gallows (Punishment/Torture)
- Gunfire on the Man-of-War (Weapons)
- Batten Down the Hatches (Pirate Ships)
- Raise the Masts and Set Sail (Mast/Sails)
- Navigating the Seven Seas (Life at Sea)
- Flying the Pirate Flag (Pirate Flags)
- A Pirate’s Life For Me (Slang/Expressions)
BONUS BOOTY - words related to pirates
view the rare, unusual and obscure words - some even obsolete - that apply to pirates, their lives and their world. Obscure words form the very foundation of this site - the dictionary is like giving you an expected wage. The lexicon is giving you a share of the best booty and the bling.
VIEW LEXICON OF PIRATES IN OBSCURITY
THE TRUTH - story of real plundering pirates
learn more about the rise of profiteering, and the pirate rebellion against authority Read their surprising adaptation to a code that formed a democracy, with equal rights, health insurance, and created a radical electoral system with the power of the vote (and yes, they could vote to kick the captain off the ship).
- View profiles of three plundering pirates - Blackbeard, Kidd and the Gentleman
- Get the heinous truth of the crimes, torture, capture and hangings.
- Read about the rise of the archetype, the genre, literary influences, the language and the legends and lore
FLYING THE PIRATE FLAG
VOCABULARY FOR
The Pirate Flags - Warnings to Friends and Foe
FLYING FLAGS IS A TRADITION AT SEA
Pirates were very fond of using flags to identify themselves to friends and foes, send messages or issue warnings. These flags are collectively known as "jacks,"
By the early 1700s, buccaneers started sewing skulls and crossbones on black flags (possibly started by Caribbean terror Emanuel Wynn). Despite the dark imagery these sent a peaceful message. Unfurling a black flag meant that if a vessel surrendered its goods, the outlaws were willing to spare her crew.
Pirates were very fond of using flags to identify themselves to friends and foes, send messages or issue warnings. These flags are collectively known as "jacks,"
By the early 1700s, buccaneers started sewing skulls and crossbones on black flags (possibly started by Caribbean terror Emanuel Wynn). Despite the dark imagery these sent a peaceful message. Unfurling a black flag meant that if a vessel surrendered its goods, the outlaws were willing to spare her crew.
JOLLY ROGER
The most prominent pirate flag was known colloquially as “Jolly Roger,” but historians aren’t sure why. As pirates would approach enemy ships, they would fly a friendly flag. At the last minute, they would pull up the Jolly Roger, a sign that they were ready to attack
Some suggest that “Old Roger” was the devil’s nickname in 18th century England, so perhaps “Jolly Roger” is a corruption thereof. Some say the term descends from “joli rouge,” French for “red flag.” A red flag means No Mercy. Sailors dreaded this signal because it warned that the pirates were ready to slaughter every man aboard.
Pirates did not fly the Jolly Roger at all times. Pirate ships usually stocked a variety of flags, and would normally fly a false flag or no colors until they had their prey within firing range. When the pirates' intended victim was within range, the Jolly Roger would be raised, often simultaneously with a warning shot.
The flag was probably intended as a warning of the pirates' identity, which may have given target ships an opportunity to decide to surrender without a fight. In June 1720 Bartholomew Roberts sailed into the harbour at Trepassey, Newfoundland with black flags flying and the crews of all 22 vessels in the harbour abandoned their ships in panic. It is claimed that if a ship decided to resist, the Jolly Roger was taken down and a red flag was flown, indicating that the pirates intended to take the ship by force and without mercy.
It was important for a prey ship to know that the assailant was a pirate, and not a privateer or government vessel - they generally had to abide by a rule that if a crew resisted, but then surrendered, it could not be executed. Pirates did not have such rules.
Some suggest that “Old Roger” was the devil’s nickname in 18th century England, so perhaps “Jolly Roger” is a corruption thereof. Some say the term descends from “joli rouge,” French for “red flag.” A red flag means No Mercy. Sailors dreaded this signal because it warned that the pirates were ready to slaughter every man aboard.
Pirates did not fly the Jolly Roger at all times. Pirate ships usually stocked a variety of flags, and would normally fly a false flag or no colors until they had their prey within firing range. When the pirates' intended victim was within range, the Jolly Roger would be raised, often simultaneously with a warning shot.
The flag was probably intended as a warning of the pirates' identity, which may have given target ships an opportunity to decide to surrender without a fight. In June 1720 Bartholomew Roberts sailed into the harbour at Trepassey, Newfoundland with black flags flying and the crews of all 22 vessels in the harbour abandoned their ships in panic. It is claimed that if a ship decided to resist, the Jolly Roger was taken down and a red flag was flown, indicating that the pirates intended to take the ship by force and without mercy.
It was important for a prey ship to know that the assailant was a pirate, and not a privateer or government vessel - they generally had to abide by a rule that if a crew resisted, but then surrendered, it could not be executed. Pirates did not have such rules.
They didn’t follow rigid style guidelines. The black skull and crossbone flags were popular, but some captains used different emblems. The infamous Blackbeard had his own black flag featuring a skeleton with horns. The skeleton held an hourglass in one hand, and in the other he carried a spear pointing to a heart dripping with three drops of blood.
FLAGS AND MEANINGS
THE RED PIRATE FLAG - used as a warning sign for opponents while also sending the ‘No Mercy’ message.
SKULLS AND BONES - represented death
BLEEDING HEART – this flag meant that a slow and a rather painful death awaited anyone
RED SKELETON / EDWARD LOW - sign of torment and eventual death.
HOURGLASS SYMBOL - meant to relay the message of time running out/ thin
NUDE PIRATE - represented pirates without any shame
CLOTHED PIRATE - this was used to represent the pirates’ captain.
HORNED SKELETON - represented Satan.
LIFTING DRINKING GLASS - this is a toast to a dying person or to Satan.
WEAPONS – a looming fight.
FLAGS AND THE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE THEM
BLACK JACK - a pirate flag; a large tankard
BLOODY FLAG - red flag used to say ”We’re goin’ to kill the lot of yer.”
COLORS - flags or banners that mark ships of different nations. Pirates often flew false colors to get close to their targets before raising the black jack.
JACK - British Union flag but also Jack or Jack Tar are familiar terms for an ordinary sailor.
RED ENSIGN - British Flag
STRIKE COLORS - to lower the ship’s flag as a signal of surrender.
YELLOW JACK - a yellow flag flown to show there was sickness or plague aboard.
- Thomas Tew (“the Rhode Island pirate”) flew a flag with an arm holding a cutlass.
- Pirates from The Bahamas had their flags specially made by a sail-maker’s widow who took payment in brandy.
- Black Bart had himself holding an hourglass with the devil.
- Captain Low had a blood-red skeleton standing at the ready.
- Christopher Moody's flag was so colorful, it became known as the bloody red."
- The Vikings decorated their flags with an embroidery pattern, usually a black raven with open wings.
- Roman pirates usually chose patterns like the caduceus of Mercury or the owl of Athena.
- British pirates, at the king’s request, hung a red flag in addition to the national flag, indicating that lethal weapons would be used in case of resistance. In other words, it meant “surrender or die”. Later, the red pirate flag was gradually replaced by the black one.
FLAGS AND MEANINGS
THE RED PIRATE FLAG - used as a warning sign for opponents while also sending the ‘No Mercy’ message.
SKULLS AND BONES - represented death
BLEEDING HEART – this flag meant that a slow and a rather painful death awaited anyone
RED SKELETON / EDWARD LOW - sign of torment and eventual death.
HOURGLASS SYMBOL - meant to relay the message of time running out/ thin
NUDE PIRATE - represented pirates without any shame
CLOTHED PIRATE - this was used to represent the pirates’ captain.
HORNED SKELETON - represented Satan.
LIFTING DRINKING GLASS - this is a toast to a dying person or to Satan.
WEAPONS – a looming fight.
FLAGS AND THE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE THEM
BLACK JACK - a pirate flag; a large tankard
BLOODY FLAG - red flag used to say ”We’re goin’ to kill the lot of yer.”
COLORS - flags or banners that mark ships of different nations. Pirates often flew false colors to get close to their targets before raising the black jack.
JACK - British Union flag but also Jack or Jack Tar are familiar terms for an ordinary sailor.
RED ENSIGN - British Flag
STRIKE COLORS - to lower the ship’s flag as a signal of surrender.
YELLOW JACK - a yellow flag flown to show there was sickness or plague aboard.
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LEARN THE REAL STORY OF PIRATES
the brutal truth in a real story of plundering pirates
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Literary ~ Language ~ Lore ~ Narrative
THE COMPLETE PIRATE DICTIONARY
the real and invented words, terms & expressions
Pirates ~ Captains - Crew - Punishment
Pirate Ships ~ Mast/Sails ~ Flags - Navigation
Food ~ Booze ~ Gear ~ Weapons ~ Slang
LEXICON OF PIRATES IN OBSCURITY
the rare, unusual & obscure words related to pirates
[A-F] ~ [G-L] ~ [M-R] ~ [S-Z]
the brutal truth in a real story of plundering pirates
Pirates ~ Golden Age ~ Fact Check ~ Archetype
Democracy - Pirate Code ~ Notable Notes
Notorious Pirates ~ Booty ~ Hangings
Literary ~ Language ~ Lore ~ Narrative
THE COMPLETE PIRATE DICTIONARY
the real and invented words, terms & expressions
Pirates ~ Captains - Crew - Punishment
Pirate Ships ~ Mast/Sails ~ Flags - Navigation
Food ~ Booze ~ Gear ~ Weapons ~ Slang
LEXICON OF PIRATES IN OBSCURITY
the rare, unusual & obscure words related to pirates
[A-F] ~ [G-L] ~ [M-R] ~ [S-Z]
PIRATE COLLECTION PRESENTED BY
A BEAUTIFUL WORD
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A SERIES OF BEAUTIFUL WORDS
Collection of Vocabulary Books, Sites and Resources
Series Homepage | View Sites | Download Books
Words are also posted on twitter under the hashtags #beautifulwords and #wordoftheday and shared visually on pinterest bulletin boards
ABOUT SITE | SITEMAPS | SEARCH | FEEDBACK
Original Content by Kairos ~ @kairosoflife
Homepage | Portfolio | Contact
Original content © 2021 Copyright, Kairos
