A Light-hearted Look at Ol’ Time Pirate Speak
How to Speak Like a Pirate
In the high pressure maritime resupply industry, the one thing that is essential is a sense of humour and a love of fun. It is something that helps to keep us focused and breaks the tension of long hours and tight deadlines. With this in mind, we’d like to do the first of what will hopefully be many humorous blog posts that pay homage to our nautical interests while still putting a smile on your face. So, without further ado let’s dive into the deep end with a pirate’s guide to talking nautical:
The Pirates Glossary of Terms (aka How to Talk Like a Pirate!)
- Ahoy – A popular interjection that is used to hail anything from a ship to a person.
- Arr! – Probably the most well-known of all pirate exclamations.
- Avast! – A shouted command that is an order to stop. It is believed to have evolved from the Italian word for stop which is “basta”.
- Aye – In this case a simple “yes” or positive affirmation.
- Becalmed – Something you’ll never want to experience if stuck with pirates, as it is a lack of wind that prevents a sailing ship from moving forward.
- Belay – Don’t be fooled by how Hollywood uses this word, as it actually means to “secure or make fast by winding on a cleat or pin. This was usually referenced when ordering a crewman to wind up a rope. However, thanks to modern pirate movies it also means stop.
- Bilged on her anchor – an unfortunate event that means a ship has been pierced by its own anchor.
- To blow the man down – To kill a person!
- Crimp – To procure crew through trickery or coercion (the pirate version of the pressgang). It was also used to reference someone who was crimping for crew.
- Dance the hempen jig – A euphemism for “To hang a man”.
- Davy Jones’ Locker – What would a Glossary of Pirate Terms be without this? Davy Jones’ Locker is a fictional place at the bottom of the ocean. It is certain death if you visit it and is the resting place of many a pirate.
- Dead men tell no tales – No survivors mean no witnesses to a pirate’s dastardly deeds!
- Give no quarter – Never spare the life of an opponent, it was normally indicated by the raising of a red flag on the pirate ship before a military engagement ensued.
- Ho – An expression of joy, or a way of attracting attention to something.
- No prey, no pay – A pirate law that said a pirate crew received no wages, but did share in whatever booty was taken.
International Speak Like a Pirate Day!
Yes, it is an actual annual event celebrated around the world by thousands of pirate lovers, and this year it will be celebrated on Tuesday the 19th of September. If you would like to know more about this event, then please go to the 2017 International Speak Like a Pirate Day Website here. But before you do so, take a listen to the Speak Like a Pirate Day Song below. Trust us, it is a lot of fun:
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