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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
BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES
VOCABULARY FOR
The Pirate Ships
A ship is a large watercraft that travels the world's oceans and other sufficiently deep waterways, carrying goods or passengers, or in support of specialized missions, such as defense, research, and fishing. Ships are generally distinguished from boats, based on size, shape, load capacity, and tradition. In the Age of Sail a "ship" was a sailing vessel defined by its sail plan of at least three square rigged masts and a full bowsprit.
Pirates used different kinds of boats in their trades and conquests, but some of the ships stand out more than others.
SLOOPS
The sloops were the most popular choice used by pirates in the Golden Age. The sloops were used to sail the Caribbean and for crossing the Atlantic. The ships were constructed in the Caribbean, and they were designed to be adaptable and had a higher level of maneuverability. These ships were also fast, which meant better performance if swift attacks were necessary. The sloops had high speeds of up to 10 knots. The sloops were preferred because they can hide in the shallow waters allowing them to escape warships due to the shallow drafts.
SCHOONERS
The most common of these schooners are the two-masted schooner, which, just like the sloop, is a fast boat boasting maneuverability. The boat also featured a greater capacity for cannons and guns. Due to its narrow hull and shallow draft, it it also can hide in the shallow waters. The only drawback was lack of room for crew and cargo.
BRIGANTINES
A shallow-draft boat popular with the pirates in the Mediterranean. It featured a high level of maneuverability at high speeds. The brigantines used oars in low winds. Thanks to its functionality and design, it was a preferred option during long battles where targets had large spoils. It offered a large hold and even greater firepower, and the capacity to hold at least 100 men.
DUTCH FLEUT
The Dutch Fleut was preferred by most pirates for an attack and plunder of bigger ships because it had a cargo hold of up to 300 tons. It is a wide, strong, and flat bottomed ship and allowed pirates space for customization. These ships were customized with guns and cannons. This ship, however, became an easier target to be attacked by other pirates.
SQUARE RIGGED SHIPS
Though often regarded as the merchant ships and identified by their three masts and the large square sails, the square-rigged ships would appeal to some pirates due to a large hold. Cargo made the ships slow, but made a better choice for longer crossings. They were not agile so they were more common with merchants rather than pirates.
GALLEONS
The Galleon featured a Spanish design that offered sufficient cargo space and could carry cannons. The galleons had a capacity to carry and sustain at least 200 crew members and 70+ guns and cannons. The drawbacks were a
cumbersome maneuverability and slow speed due to large sails.
FAMOUS SHIPS
Queen Anne’s Revenge Pirate Ship
This ship is one of the most famous pirate ships. It was originally known as the Concorde, it was seized from the French in 1717 by Blackbeard. He renamed the ship the Queen Anne’s Revenge. Unfortunately, was involved in a raid involving five merchant ships and hit a sandbar and was severely damaged. Some historians suggest Blackbeard intentionally hit the sandbar because he wished to kill his crew to keep the fortune for himself
The Adventure Gallery Pirate Ship
Captained by the Scottish sailor-turned pirate William Kidd, it was said to be one of the ships used to stop attacks launched by the British pirates in the East Indies. Kidd attacked allied ships with it for booty.
Whydah pirate ship
This ship dates back to London in 1715 where it was originally a slave ship. Bellamy, “Black Sam,” acquired it during a second voyage. This ship contained treasures from about 50 ships. It was sunk in a storm in Cape Cod after hitting a sandbar. Only two men out of 146 survived.
DIAGRAM OF A SINKING SHIP
ABAFT or AFT - toward the back of the boat
BILGE - where the sides of the vessel curve in to form the bottom. Used to describe foulness and garbage, the bilge is technically the lowest internal part of a ship. The word is a variant of bulge which comes from old French boulge meaning "leather sack."
BINNACLE - where the compass is kept on board the ship
BOW - front of the ship or boat.
BRIGANTINE or BRIG - a two-masted ship, square-rigged on both masts.
CABIN - a “room” on a ship.
CROW'S NEST - the place on the ship where the lookout stand is built
DUNGBIE - rear end of the ship
GANGPLANK - removable ramp between the pier and ship
GHOST SHIP - long-standing seafaring term for "any vessel found sailing without her crew." Supernatural powers are bound to surface in any discussion of ghostMax ships. One well-known ghost ship is the Flying Dutchman that is said to be continuously exploring for "safe harbor" and is condemned to eternally "haunt the cape."
FUTTOCK - curved timber that forms a rib in the frame of a ship.
FORECASTLE - part of the upper deck forward of the foremast. Often this was a built up section where some of the crew is housed.
FOREMAST - foremost mast of the ship.
GANGPLANK - removable board or ramp used to board a ship from a pier.
GANGWAY - passage along either side of a ship's upper deck that should be kept clear to move on at all times. Shouting “Gangway” is a good way to tell people they are in your way.
GALLEON - large Spanish merchant ship. Often full o’ booty, sometimes loaded with cannons. A bit old fashioned by the 18th Century.
HEAD - old mariner's term, first recorded in the early 1700s, referring to the toilets.They were located at the head (bow) of the ship, where they could easily be washed out.
HOLD: In earlier use, below the orlop deck, the lower part of the interior of a ship’s hull, especially when considered as storage space, as for cargo. In later merchant vessels, it extended up through the decks to the underside of the weather deck.
HULL - the body of the ship, the bit that floats on the water below the masts, rigging and sails.
KEEL - one of the main longitudinal beams of the hull of a vessel. The keel is the lowest plank of wood on a boat. It is the foundational piece, and the ship depends on it for strength and stability. The phrase "keep an even keel" comes from maintaining a level, horizontal position on a ship, and has come to mean “keeping a calm demeanor.”
LONG BOAT - large boat carried by a ship which is used to move loads such as anchors, chains, ropes, or loot.
MAN-O-WAR - the name used for a pirate ship that is heavily armed and ready for battle
ORLOP - lowest deck, immediately above the hold.
PINNACE - light boat propelled by sails or oars, used for travelling between ship and shore.
POOP DECK - deck that is the highest and farthest back
PORT: port its left of the ship
PROW - the front part of a vessel. It is related to the prefix ‘pro’ found in words like proceed, meaning "to go on, to go before."
QUARTER-DECK - uppermost deck abaft the main mast. The “sticky up bit at the back”
SCUTTLEBUTT - the drinking fountain on a ship. (Around the water cooler, pirate style).
SLOOP - single-masted, fore-and-aft-rigged ship much favoured by pirates because of its speed, shallow draught and fast turning ability.
STARBOARD - starboard is the ship’s right
STERN - the rear part of a ship. The stern is where the steering gear of the ship is located, and the word derives from Old Norse ‘styra’, meaning "to guide."
STEM - foremost timber of the frame.
UPPER DECK - highest deck running the full length of the ship.
XEBEC - small three-masted pirate ship.
Pirates used different kinds of boats in their trades and conquests, but some of the ships stand out more than others.
SLOOPS
The sloops were the most popular choice used by pirates in the Golden Age. The sloops were used to sail the Caribbean and for crossing the Atlantic. The ships were constructed in the Caribbean, and they were designed to be adaptable and had a higher level of maneuverability. These ships were also fast, which meant better performance if swift attacks were necessary. The sloops had high speeds of up to 10 knots. The sloops were preferred because they can hide in the shallow waters allowing them to escape warships due to the shallow drafts.
SCHOONERS
The most common of these schooners are the two-masted schooner, which, just like the sloop, is a fast boat boasting maneuverability. The boat also featured a greater capacity for cannons and guns. Due to its narrow hull and shallow draft, it it also can hide in the shallow waters. The only drawback was lack of room for crew and cargo.
BRIGANTINES
A shallow-draft boat popular with the pirates in the Mediterranean. It featured a high level of maneuverability at high speeds. The brigantines used oars in low winds. Thanks to its functionality and design, it was a preferred option during long battles where targets had large spoils. It offered a large hold and even greater firepower, and the capacity to hold at least 100 men.
DUTCH FLEUT
The Dutch Fleut was preferred by most pirates for an attack and plunder of bigger ships because it had a cargo hold of up to 300 tons. It is a wide, strong, and flat bottomed ship and allowed pirates space for customization. These ships were customized with guns and cannons. This ship, however, became an easier target to be attacked by other pirates.
SQUARE RIGGED SHIPS
Though often regarded as the merchant ships and identified by their three masts and the large square sails, the square-rigged ships would appeal to some pirates due to a large hold. Cargo made the ships slow, but made a better choice for longer crossings. They were not agile so they were more common with merchants rather than pirates.
GALLEONS
The Galleon featured a Spanish design that offered sufficient cargo space and could carry cannons. The galleons had a capacity to carry and sustain at least 200 crew members and 70+ guns and cannons. The drawbacks were a
cumbersome maneuverability and slow speed due to large sails.
FAMOUS SHIPS
Queen Anne’s Revenge Pirate Ship
This ship is one of the most famous pirate ships. It was originally known as the Concorde, it was seized from the French in 1717 by Blackbeard. He renamed the ship the Queen Anne’s Revenge. Unfortunately, was involved in a raid involving five merchant ships and hit a sandbar and was severely damaged. Some historians suggest Blackbeard intentionally hit the sandbar because he wished to kill his crew to keep the fortune for himself
The Adventure Gallery Pirate Ship
Captained by the Scottish sailor-turned pirate William Kidd, it was said to be one of the ships used to stop attacks launched by the British pirates in the East Indies. Kidd attacked allied ships with it for booty.
Whydah pirate ship
This ship dates back to London in 1715 where it was originally a slave ship. Bellamy, “Black Sam,” acquired it during a second voyage. This ship contained treasures from about 50 ships. It was sunk in a storm in Cape Cod after hitting a sandbar. Only two men out of 146 survived.
DIAGRAM OF A SINKING SHIP
ABAFT or AFT - toward the back of the boat
BILGE - where the sides of the vessel curve in to form the bottom. Used to describe foulness and garbage, the bilge is technically the lowest internal part of a ship. The word is a variant of bulge which comes from old French boulge meaning "leather sack."
BINNACLE - where the compass is kept on board the ship
BOW - front of the ship or boat.
BRIGANTINE or BRIG - a two-masted ship, square-rigged on both masts.
CABIN - a “room” on a ship.
CROW'S NEST - the place on the ship where the lookout stand is built
DUNGBIE - rear end of the ship
GANGPLANK - removable ramp between the pier and ship
GHOST SHIP - long-standing seafaring term for "any vessel found sailing without her crew." Supernatural powers are bound to surface in any discussion of ghostMax ships. One well-known ghost ship is the Flying Dutchman that is said to be continuously exploring for "safe harbor" and is condemned to eternally "haunt the cape."
FUTTOCK - curved timber that forms a rib in the frame of a ship.
FORECASTLE - part of the upper deck forward of the foremast. Often this was a built up section where some of the crew is housed.
FOREMAST - foremost mast of the ship.
GANGPLANK - removable board or ramp used to board a ship from a pier.
GANGWAY - passage along either side of a ship's upper deck that should be kept clear to move on at all times. Shouting “Gangway” is a good way to tell people they are in your way.
GALLEON - large Spanish merchant ship. Often full o’ booty, sometimes loaded with cannons. A bit old fashioned by the 18th Century.
HEAD - old mariner's term, first recorded in the early 1700s, referring to the toilets.They were located at the head (bow) of the ship, where they could easily be washed out.
HOLD: In earlier use, below the orlop deck, the lower part of the interior of a ship’s hull, especially when considered as storage space, as for cargo. In later merchant vessels, it extended up through the decks to the underside of the weather deck.
HULL - the body of the ship, the bit that floats on the water below the masts, rigging and sails.
KEEL - one of the main longitudinal beams of the hull of a vessel. The keel is the lowest plank of wood on a boat. It is the foundational piece, and the ship depends on it for strength and stability. The phrase "keep an even keel" comes from maintaining a level, horizontal position on a ship, and has come to mean “keeping a calm demeanor.”
LONG BOAT - large boat carried by a ship which is used to move loads such as anchors, chains, ropes, or loot.
MAN-O-WAR - the name used for a pirate ship that is heavily armed and ready for battle
ORLOP - lowest deck, immediately above the hold.
PINNACE - light boat propelled by sails or oars, used for travelling between ship and shore.
POOP DECK - deck that is the highest and farthest back
PORT: port its left of the ship
PROW - the front part of a vessel. It is related to the prefix ‘pro’ found in words like proceed, meaning "to go on, to go before."
QUARTER-DECK - uppermost deck abaft the main mast. The “sticky up bit at the back”
SCUTTLEBUTT - the drinking fountain on a ship. (Around the water cooler, pirate style).
SLOOP - single-masted, fore-and-aft-rigged ship much favoured by pirates because of its speed, shallow draught and fast turning ability.
STARBOARD - starboard is the ship’s right
STERN - the rear part of a ship. The stern is where the steering gear of the ship is located, and the word derives from Old Norse ‘styra’, meaning "to guide."
STEM - foremost timber of the frame.
UPPER DECK - highest deck running the full length of the ship.
XEBEC - small three-masted pirate ship.
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LEARN THE REAL STORY OF PIRATES
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]
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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Homepage | Portfolio | Contact
Original content © 2021 Copyright, Kairos
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
