A Pirate's Glossary of Terms
A comprehensive glossary of pirate terms and their meanings, historical info, plus some words about famous pirates. Arr!
List - A Pirate's Glossary of Terms
choose a category from the menu for more words, phrases, costumes, and libations.
Merriment & Misery - A Pirate's Glossary of Terms
Perhaps more famous than historically practiced, walking the plank is the act of being forced off a ship by pirates as punishment or torture. The victim, usually blindfolded or with bound hands or both, is forced to walk along a plank laid over the ship's side and fall into the water below.
Namecalling - A Pirate's Glossary of Terms
A pirate, especially one of the freebooters who preyed on Spanish shipping in the West Indies during the 17th century. The buccaneers were first hunters of pigs and cattle on the islands of Hispanola and Tortuga, but were driven off by the Spanish and turned to piracy.
Anatomy of a Ship - A Pirate's Glossary of Terms
Edward Teach's (Blackbeard) severed head hangs from Maynard's bowsprit, as pictured in Charles Elles's The Pirates Own Book (1837) broadside A general term for the vantage on another ship of absolute perpendicular to the direction it is going.
Pirate Ships — A Pirate's Glossary of Terms
The largest boat carried by a ship which is used to move large loads such as anchors, chains, or ropes. Pirates use the boats to transport the bulk of heavier treasures.
Weaponry - A Pirate's Glossary of Terms
A muzzle-loading gun with a distinctive, flared muzzle, common among pirates and privateers, and typically loaded with a number of small lead balls. The purpose of the flared muzzle was to spread out the shot, though experiments have shown no …
Dress Like a Pirate - A Pirate's Glossary of Terms
Prepare yerself fer a festive voyage on th’ high seas, a fancy pirate faire, a galavanting birthday gala, or a frightful Hallow’s Eve. Here be a curation of some of our favorite attire - a mix o’ period-accurate and fun.
Places - A Pirate's Glossary of Terms
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Famous Pirates - A Pirate's Glossary of Terms
Stede Bonnet (known as the “Gentleman Pirate,” and temporarily as Captain Thomas) 1688-1718. A Barbadian pirate who sailed the American Eastern Seaboard aboard the Revenge. After marital problems in 1717, he used inherited wealth to purchase an armed sloop and turned pirate.