Pirate Expressions and Phrases
So maybe you want to talk like a pirate, but aren't sure quite what to say. Or maybe you already know how to talk like a pirate, but want more inspiration. Regardless, here are some words and phrases to help you get into the spirit of the buccaneer.
Ahoy! - An interjection meant to hail a ship or person, or to attract attention. Ex: Ahoy, matey! How was today's catch?
Arr! - A general-purpose pirate exclamation. Can also be a way of pronouncing the 18th letter of the alphabet. Ex: CQ Avast, CQ Pirate, this is W6 aRRR aRRR aRRR.
Avast - An interjection meant to command a person or ship to stop. Ex: Avast! What's yer name, and how many doubloons are ye hiding?
Aye (aye) - Yes; affirmative. Ex: Aye aye, sir; I am indeed *the* Anne Bonny.
Batten down the hatches - Cease all activities and tie down everything on the ship (used when a storm is imminent). Ex: 8:30 already? Better turn off me amplifier and batten down the hatches.
Bilged on one's anchor - A ship pierced by its own anchor. Ex: I hope that lid gets bilged on his anchor!
Blimey! - An interjection meant to convey surprise. Ex: Blimey! You had fifty doubloons before the rest of us started pillaging!
Bring a spring upon her cable - To turn around completely. Ex: I was sure our group was behind in the skirmish, but we brought a spring upon her cable, came broadside, and finally managed to eke out a victory!
Boom: A long spar extending from a mast to hold up a sail. Ex: I'd best go adjust the boom, or I fear we may not be sailing much longer!
Cat o' Nine Tails - A whip with 9 strands, used for flogging. Ex: So, scurvy rapscallion, were ya hoping for a taste o' the cat?
Careen - To take a ship out of the water to remove barnacles, mollusks, and such from the bottom, so that it will sail more smoothly. Ex: I'd better finish me careening smartly, lest those Red scoundrels arrive afore I'm done.
Crimp - To obtain pirates or sailors by trickery, threat, or coercion. Ex: I'm not going to crimp anyone, but I really hope all of you make it to the Pirate QSO Party!
Doubloon - A gold coin. See "Rules".
Go on account - To turn to a pirate life. Ex: I liked the Pirate QSO Party so much, I decided to go on account.
Heave ho - To put in a serious effort. Ex: When you're running QRP, you have to heave ho to make any contacts whatsoever.
Hornswaggle - To cheat or defraud. Ex: All hornswagglers should be keelhauled and strung up on the yardarm!
Lad/laddie (male), lass/lassie (female) - A younger or less experienced pirate. Ex: Ah, lassie, wait 'till you're my age and have to climb the tower with a hook for a hand and a peg for a leg!
Landlubber - Someone unfamiliar with sailing or life at sea. Often derogatory. Ex: I may talk like a landlubber, but I can still tie a parrel 'round the mizzen faster than you can say "shiver me timbers"!
Letter of Marque - A license given to a privateer to prove that they were truly sanctioned by the government. Ex: "Hey, you're a pirate radio station! Get off the band!" "Nope, I'm allowed to be here. The FCC issued me a Letter of Marque along with my ham license. Also, I want your frequency, so you'd better walk the plank!"
Privateer - A pirate sanctioned by the government. Privateers were not allowed to and generally did not steal from ships belonging to their own countries. Ex: Some pirates prefer not to raise the Jolly Roger. Then local sailors might believe they are privateers -- until the pirates jump onto the merchant ships and plunder all their booty.
Sail ho! - An exclamation indicating that another ship is in view. Ex: When I heard WB6RJH near my frequency, I called out "Sail ho!", but he was still too far off to hear me.
Sea legs - The ability to stay balanced while walking on a ship, even in rough seas. Ex: You may find the Pirate QSO Party rules to be difficult at first, but be patient; you'll find your sea legs soon enough.
Shiver me timbers! - An interjection meant to convey shock or disbelief. Ex: Shiver me timbers! That tankard o' bumbo was the best I've had since I boarded this rig 15 years ago!
Show a leg! - Wake up! Ex. Don't you hear that N0AX is calling you? Show a leg!
Strike colors - To surrender by lowering one's flag. Ex: Don't strike colors! There's still 15 minutes left in the contest, and I think we Reds have a chance.
Swing the lead - Using a line with a lead weight to measure the depth of water. This was considered a simple job, so swinging the lead became associated with laziness. Ex: Counting doubloons may be a difficult task, but at least no one will accuse you of swinging the lead.
Walk the plank - To force another pirate to walk off a board jutting off the side of a boat while at sea. This was not common practice in actual piracy, but is an extremely popular concept in pirate mythology and literature. Ex: Walk the plank, ye bilge-sucking scallywag!
Weigh anchor - Pull up the anchor and get going. Ex: It's two minutes 'till contest start; ready yer sea legs, weigh anchor and hoist the mizzen!
Sources:
http://www.pirateglossary.com/Phrases.html
http://www.piratetreasurenow.com/pirate-phrases.htm
http://www.thepiratesrealm.com/pirate%20talk.html
All example sentences courtesy of W6RRR.
Ahoy! - An interjection meant to hail a ship or person, or to attract attention. Ex: Ahoy, matey! How was today's catch?
Arr! - A general-purpose pirate exclamation. Can also be a way of pronouncing the 18th letter of the alphabet. Ex: CQ Avast, CQ Pirate, this is W6 aRRR aRRR aRRR.
Avast - An interjection meant to command a person or ship to stop. Ex: Avast! What's yer name, and how many doubloons are ye hiding?
Aye (aye) - Yes; affirmative. Ex: Aye aye, sir; I am indeed *the* Anne Bonny.
Batten down the hatches - Cease all activities and tie down everything on the ship (used when a storm is imminent). Ex: 8:30 already? Better turn off me amplifier and batten down the hatches.
Bilged on one's anchor - A ship pierced by its own anchor. Ex: I hope that lid gets bilged on his anchor!
Blimey! - An interjection meant to convey surprise. Ex: Blimey! You had fifty doubloons before the rest of us started pillaging!
Bring a spring upon her cable - To turn around completely. Ex: I was sure our group was behind in the skirmish, but we brought a spring upon her cable, came broadside, and finally managed to eke out a victory!
Boom: A long spar extending from a mast to hold up a sail. Ex: I'd best go adjust the boom, or I fear we may not be sailing much longer!
Cat o' Nine Tails - A whip with 9 strands, used for flogging. Ex: So, scurvy rapscallion, were ya hoping for a taste o' the cat?
Careen - To take a ship out of the water to remove barnacles, mollusks, and such from the bottom, so that it will sail more smoothly. Ex: I'd better finish me careening smartly, lest those Red scoundrels arrive afore I'm done.
Crimp - To obtain pirates or sailors by trickery, threat, or coercion. Ex: I'm not going to crimp anyone, but I really hope all of you make it to the Pirate QSO Party!
Doubloon - A gold coin. See "Rules".
Go on account - To turn to a pirate life. Ex: I liked the Pirate QSO Party so much, I decided to go on account.
Heave ho - To put in a serious effort. Ex: When you're running QRP, you have to heave ho to make any contacts whatsoever.
Hornswaggle - To cheat or defraud. Ex: All hornswagglers should be keelhauled and strung up on the yardarm!
Lad/laddie (male), lass/lassie (female) - A younger or less experienced pirate. Ex: Ah, lassie, wait 'till you're my age and have to climb the tower with a hook for a hand and a peg for a leg!
Landlubber - Someone unfamiliar with sailing or life at sea. Often derogatory. Ex: I may talk like a landlubber, but I can still tie a parrel 'round the mizzen faster than you can say "shiver me timbers"!
Letter of Marque - A license given to a privateer to prove that they were truly sanctioned by the government. Ex: "Hey, you're a pirate radio station! Get off the band!" "Nope, I'm allowed to be here. The FCC issued me a Letter of Marque along with my ham license. Also, I want your frequency, so you'd better walk the plank!"
Privateer - A pirate sanctioned by the government. Privateers were not allowed to and generally did not steal from ships belonging to their own countries. Ex: Some pirates prefer not to raise the Jolly Roger. Then local sailors might believe they are privateers -- until the pirates jump onto the merchant ships and plunder all their booty.
Sail ho! - An exclamation indicating that another ship is in view. Ex: When I heard WB6RJH near my frequency, I called out "Sail ho!", but he was still too far off to hear me.
Sea legs - The ability to stay balanced while walking on a ship, even in rough seas. Ex: You may find the Pirate QSO Party rules to be difficult at first, but be patient; you'll find your sea legs soon enough.
Shiver me timbers! - An interjection meant to convey shock or disbelief. Ex: Shiver me timbers! That tankard o' bumbo was the best I've had since I boarded this rig 15 years ago!
Show a leg! - Wake up! Ex. Don't you hear that N0AX is calling you? Show a leg!
Strike colors - To surrender by lowering one's flag. Ex: Don't strike colors! There's still 15 minutes left in the contest, and I think we Reds have a chance.
Swing the lead - Using a line with a lead weight to measure the depth of water. This was considered a simple job, so swinging the lead became associated with laziness. Ex: Counting doubloons may be a difficult task, but at least no one will accuse you of swinging the lead.
Walk the plank - To force another pirate to walk off a board jutting off the side of a boat while at sea. This was not common practice in actual piracy, but is an extremely popular concept in pirate mythology and literature. Ex: Walk the plank, ye bilge-sucking scallywag!
Weigh anchor - Pull up the anchor and get going. Ex: It's two minutes 'till contest start; ready yer sea legs, weigh anchor and hoist the mizzen!
Sources:
http://www.pirateglossary.com/Phrases.html
http://www.piratetreasurenow.com/pirate-phrases.htm
http://www.thepiratesrealm.com/pirate%20talk.html
All example sentences courtesy of W6RRR.