Aaaarrrrgggghhhh! Pirate catch phrase of grumbling or disgust

Ahoy! Hello!

Ahoy, Matey Hello, my friend!

Ahoy, Me Hearties! Hello, my friends, crew members, etc.; addressed to group

All Hand Hoy! Everyone get on deck!

Avast Ye Pay attention and check this out!

Aye Yes

Aye, Aye A crew member says this to the Captain, meaning “I will get that done right away!”

Batten Down The Hatches Tie everything down and put stuff away for a coming storm.

Bilge-Sucking An insulting expression of disdain

Blimey! Surprise, shock

Blow me down! Phrase of amazement or shock

Blow The Man Down The Captain’s command to get rid of a person

Booty A treasure

Bounty A reward for capturing a known criminal, such as a pirate

Bring a Spring Upon ‘er Turn the ship in a different direction

Broadside The most vulnerable angle of a ship that runs the length of the boat

Buccaneer A pirate

Bucko Friend, a pirate, same as a buccaneer

Carouser Reckless or loud person who drinks excessively

Cat O'Nine Tails A special kind of whip that has 9 strands

Chantey Song sung together by sailors or pirates in unison, while they work

Chase A vessel that is being pursued

Chase Gun The main cannon at the bow of a ship

Clap of Thunder Strong, alcoholic drink, like a shot

Cleave Him to the Brisket An order to kill a man by cutting across his chest from the shoulders to stomach.

Clipper Fast-moving boat or ship

Coffer The treasure chest

Cog Smaller war ship

Corsair Pirates from the Mediterranean

Crack Jenny’s Teacup Term for spending the night with a prostitute

Crow's Nest A small lookout platform near the mast to see long distances

Cutlass A thick, heavy and rather short sword blade for pirates

Davy Jones' Locker A mystical fable about an evil spirit from the bottom of the ocean that draws pirates or sailors down to their death

Dead Men Tell No Tales An expression meaning no survivors left behind

Doubloons Types of Spanish gold coins piratesfind

Fathom Six feet

Feed the Fish About to die

Fire in the Hole Warning given to crew before a cannon is fired

Flogging Severe beating of a person

Galley Flat ship propelled manually by oars

Gangplank Removable ramp between the pier and ship

Go on Account A phrase pirates used to say they were turning into a pirate

Grog Rum or liquor diluted by water

Grog Blossom Someone with a red nose from drinking too frequently, alcoholic

Hands Crew members or sailors of a ship

Hang ‘Emfrom the Yardarm Type of punishment served to a prisoner

Hang the Jib Frown or pout

Head Potty or toilet on a pirate ship

Hearties Friends, fellow comrades or sailors

Heave Ho Put your weight and muscle into it

Heave To Stop!!

Hempen Halter A rope hanging noose

Hornswaggle Cheat or defraud someone out of assets or money

Jack Flag flown at the front of ship to show nationality

Jack Ketch The hangman. “Dance with Jack Ketch” means to hang

Jacob's Ladder A rope ladder used to climb aboard a boat

Jolly Roger Black pirate flag with white skull and crossbones

Keelhaul Painful punishment whereby the pirates drag a person side-to-side under the pirate ship and they get cut up by the planks and barnacles from the bottom of the ship

Killick Small, stone anchor with a wooden frame

Lad, lass, lassie A kid or young person

Landlubber An inexperienced or clumsy person who doesn't have any sailing skills

Letters of Marque Government-issued letters allowing privateers the right to piracy of another ship during wartime

Lookout The pirate who keeps watch for land or oncoming ships

Loot Stolen money or belongings

Man-O-War A pirate ship that is decked out and prepared for battle

Maroon Leave someone stranded on a deserted island with no supplies, which was a common punishment for any crew members who disrespected or dishonored the Captain

Marooned To be abandoned with no food, drink, or possessions

Me My

Mizzen The 3rd mast from the ship’s bow of bigger ships

Mutiny When crew gang up against the Captain of the ship or other authority

No Prey, No Pay The ship’s crew received no wages; however they got a part of the loot or treasure

Old Salt Experienced pirate or sailor

Pieces of eight Spanish coins in pirate treasures

Pillage Rob, ransack or plunder

Piracy Robbery performed at sea, often to another ship

Plunder Take booty or burglarize

Poop deck (Not the toilet!) This is a part of the ship above the Captain’s headquarters at the farthest point back

Privateer Government-appointed pirates

Red Ensign British Flag

>Rum Pirate's favorite alcoholic beverage

Run a Rig Play a joke or a trick on someone

Run a Shot Across the Bow Warning shot given to another boat's Captain

Sail, Ho! A warning that another ship is in view

Savvy? A question asking, “Do you get it?” or “Do you understand?”

Scallywag A kidding type of word that a superior pirate might call one of the rookie pirates

Scourge of the 7 Seas Pirate known as the worst kind

Scurvy Dog The pirate is calling you an insulting name

Scuttle Sink a ship

Seadog A veteran sailor or old pirate

Sea Legs When a sailor adjusts his balance from riding on a boat for a long time

Shark Bait This is what you become after you walk the plank

Shipshape The ship is managed and clean, everything is under control

Shiver Me Timbers! Something like, "Holy Cow!" a surprised or shocked expression

Sink Me! Another expression of surprise

Son of a Biscuit Eater A name or insult for someone you dislike

Splice the Mainbrace! Pass a round of drinks out to the crew

Spyglass Telescope

Squiffy Tipsy or intoxicated, shaky footing

Strike Colors Lower a ship’s flag to indicate surrender

Swab Mop or clean the ship’s deck and floorboards

Take a Caulk Take a nap

Tar Sailor, crew member

Thar She Blows! Whale sighting

Three Sheets to the Wind Very drunk, intoxicated

Walk the Plank Prisoner is ordered to walk off the board overlapping the ocean, which results in drowning and presumably a meet-up with Davy Jones Locker.

Weigh Anchor and Hoist the Mizzen! An order to the crew to pull up the anchor and get this ship sailing!

Wench A woman or peasant girl

Ye You

Yellow Jack When a ship flies a yellow flag, it indicates the presence of an ill crew member, such as yellow fever. But this was also a trick that smart pirates used to avoid becoming the target of another ship.