gertlush Posted October 5, 2007 Posted October 5, 2007 To 'belay' has piratical origins apparently... This was taken from the Long John Silver's website which seems to be an authoritative source. Aft - short for "after" or a place toward the end of the ship Ahoy - Hello Aloft - up, above Arrr - a pirate exclamation Avast - Hey! Could be used as "stop that" or "who goes there" Becalmed - the state of a sailing ship when it cannot move because there is no wind Belay - Stop that. "Belay that talk" would mean "shut up" Bilge - nonsense or foolish talk or the lowest part of the ship, bilge water is the foul, blackish sea water that would collect from seepage in this area Black Jack - a leather tankard, made stiff with a coating of tar, used by dockside pubs and taverns to serve wine and beer Blimey - an exclamation of surprise or disgust Bosun - a petty officer Bucko - a familiar term. "me bucko" = my friend Chantey (shanty) - a sailor's song Chase - the ship being pursued; "the chase is making full sail" Corsair - a more romantic term for a pirate, but a pirate nonetheless Crow's Nest - a small platform, sometimes enclosed, near the top of a mast, where a lookout could have a better view when watching for sails or for land Cutlass - a short, curved thick sword Davy Jones' Locker - the bottom of the sea Deadlights - eyes "use yer deadlights, matey" Dead men tell no tales - standard pirate excuse for leaving no survivors Doubloon - a Spanish gold coin Flogging - punishment by caning or by whipping Fore or forrard - toward the front end of the ship Freebooter - another term for a pirate Gangway - move Hands - the crew of a ship; sailors Handsomely - quickly Hold - the cargo area of a ship below the main deck Jack Tar or tar - a sailor Jolly Roger - the pirates' skull-and-crossbones flag Keelhaul - punishment Lad/Lass - a way to address someone younger than you Landlubber or lubber - a non-sailor. A landsman Letters of Marque - proof that a pirate is sponsored by a particular government Matey - a piratical way to address someone in a cheerful way Me - a piratical way to say "my" Me hearties - typical way for a pirate leader to address his crew or friends. On the Account - the piratical life - a man who "went on the account" was turning pirate Sail ho! - "I see a ship" The sail of another ship is visible over the horizon Scurvy - a derogatory adjective suitable for use in a loud voice, as in "Ye scurvy dogs!" Shiver me timbers - an expression of surprise or strong emotion Sink me! - An expression of surprise Spyglass - a telescope Starboard - the right side of the ship when you are facing toward her prow Sutler - a merchant in port selling the various things that a ship needed for supplies and repairs Swab - a disrespectful term for a seaman Weigh anchor - to haul the anchor up; more generally to leave port Walk the plank - a piratical execution. Yo-ho-ho - a very piratical thing to say The Pirate Alphabet A: Ehhhh? - "what's that?" B: Are - as in "be ye ready to surrender?" C: Si, si! - To a Spanish pirate, "Yes!" E: Eeeeee! - "Maaaaaybe" I: Aye - "Yes!" O: Oh! Q: Queue - a sailor's pigtail, usually tarred R: Arrrrrr! - a general expression of glee T: Tea - a very inferior substitute for grog Z: Zee - to a French pirate, "the' Quote
sirwoofalot Posted November 30, 2007 Posted November 30, 2007 Belay - Stop that. "Belay that talk" would mean "shut up" Incorrect. The word belay comes from the French word for friction. On the old sailing ships there was a belay pin used to wrap the rope around so one man can hold hundreds of pound with just one hand. It is the same word root origin for use in climbing. Quote
sirwoofalot Posted November 30, 2007 Posted November 30, 2007 Keelhaul - punishment To elaborate; when one is keel hauled their hands are tied together at the end of a rope, and their feet are tied together at the end of another rope. The person is dumped into the water on one side of the boat and pulled up on the other side with the other rope. This process is done a few times scraping the barnacles off the keel. After a few passes the victim is dead either from drowning, sawed in half, or eaten by sharks and in many cases for more than one of the reason just listed. Quote
sirwoofalot Posted November 30, 2007 Posted November 30, 2007 Scurvy - a derogatory adjective suitable for use in a loud voice, as in "Ye scurvy dogs!" A dredged skin disease brought on by a lack of Vitamin C. Quote
sobo Posted November 30, 2007 Posted November 30, 2007 Scurvy - a derogatory adjective suitable for use in a loud voice, as in "Ye scurvy dogs!" A dredged skin disease brought on by a lack of Vitamin C. you mean "dreaded", don't you? Or maybe "wretched"? Quote
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