Toward, at, or near the stern (rear) of a ship. The opposite of “fore.”

A traditional nautical greeting or call used to attract attention, especially between ships or from ship to shore. It became standardized as the telephone greeting of choice before “hello” won out, at the suggestion of Alexander Graham Bell.

The middle portion of a ship, midway between bow and stern. Helm orders of “amidships” bring the rudder back to a straight, centered position.

A command meaning “stop” or “hold fast,” used to order a halt to an action already in progress. It likely derives from the Dutch houd vast, meaning “hold fast.”

The lowest interior part of a ship’s hull, where water collects and must be pumped out. “Bilge” also became slang for nonsense or worthless talk.

An insulting term for a lowly, unimportant sailor, referencing the vermin that infested a ship’s filthy, waterlogged bilge.

A pirate death threat or verdict of condemnation, delivered as a plain black mark on a piece of paper. The device was popularized by Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel Treasure Island rather than confirmed historical pirate practice.

A ship’s warrant officer in charge of the deck crew, rigging, anchors, and equipment, traditionally summoning the crew with a distinctive pipe (whistle). The spelling reflects “boat” plus the archaic “swain,” meaning a boy or servant.

Goods, treasure, or valuables seized by force, especially from a captured ship. The word comes from Old French butin, meaning spoils of war.

A sturdy, often reinforced wooden chest used to store and transport a pirate crew’s accumulated treasure and valuables.

The forward, front-most part of a ship’s hull, shaped to cut through the water.

A two-masted sailing ship fully square-rigged on both masts; the term is also used for a ship’s onboard jail, since brigs were sometimes used to hold prisoners.

A two-masted sailing ship, square-rigged on the foremast and typically fore-and-aft rigged on the mainmast, valued by pirates for its speed and versatility.

Originally a term for French, English, and Dutch adventurers on Hispaniola and Tortuga who smoked wild cattle and pig meat over a wooden frame called a boucan; many later turned to piracy in the Caribbean during the 17th century.

A large mounted gun used aboard warships and pirate vessels to fire solid shot or grapeshot at enemy ships and rigging during battle.

The commanding officer of a ship. On many pirate vessels the captain was democratically elected by the crew and could be voted out, unlike the rigid hierarchy of naval or merchant ships.

To deliberately tilt a ship onto its side, usually on a beach, to expose the hull below the waterline for cleaning, repair, or removal of barnacles. It derives from the Latin carina, meaning “keel.”

Goods or merchandise carried aboard a ship for trade, the primary target of pirate raids on merchant vessels.

A multi-tailed whip made of nine knotted cords, used as an instrument of severe corporal punishment aboard ships, particularly in the Royal Navy; being whipped with it was called “a taste of the cat.”

The process of sealing gaps between a ship’s hull planks, traditionally with oakum (loose fiber) and tar, to keep the vessel watertight.

A fast, narrow-hulled sailing ship built for speed, developed after the classic Golden Age of Piracy but sharing the era’s tall-ship sailing techniques.

A pirate or privateer, especially one operating in the Mediterranean under license from a state such as the Barbary Coast principalities or, on the other side, the Christian Knights of Malta.

The crew member who steers a ship’s smaller boat, such as a longboat, and is responsible for its handling and crew.

The practice of forcibly or deceptively recruiting men into a ship’s crew, often through trickery, intimidation, or drugging, carried out by agents known as “crimps.”

A small, partly enclosed platform mounted high on a ship’s mast where a lookout stood watch for other vessels, land, or hazards.

A short, broad-bladed, curved sword favored by pirates and sailors for its effectiveness in the close, cramped quarters of shipboard combat.

A euphemism for the bottom of the sea, especially as the resting place of drowned sailors and sunken ships. The origin of “Davy Jones” is uncertain, but the phrase was in common sailors’ use by the 18th century.

Sturdy wooden or metal shutters fitted over a ship’s portholes to protect them from breaking in heavy seas or battle; in old slang, “deadlights” could also mean a person’s eyes.

A general crew member responsible for basic maintenance and manual labor on a ship’s deck and rigging, ranking below specialized officers.

A region near the equator known for calm winds and unpredictable weather that could leave sailing ships stranded for days or weeks; now used generally to mean a state of stagnation or low spirits.

A gold coin formerly used in Spain and Spanish America, prized as classic pirate treasure. The name comes from the Spanish doblón, referring to its double value relative to a standard gold escudo.

A common pairing referring generally to Spanish gold and silver coinage, the archetypal currency of pirate treasure hoards during the Golden Age of Piracy.

The depth of water a ship’s hull sits below the waterline; a vessel with a deep draught needs deeper water to sail safely without running aground.

A unit of measurement equal to six feet, traditionally used to gauge water depth, originally based on the span of a man’s outstretched arms.

A carved wooden decorative figure, often a woman, mermaid, or animal, mounted on the bow of a sailing ship beneath the bowsprit.

The ship’s second-in-command, responsible for the crew and daily operations, and next in line to take charge if the captain became incapacitated.

Corporal punishment by whipping, formally used in naval discipline (often with a cat o’ nine tails) to punish infractions ranging from theft to insubordination.

Legal and nautical terms for debris in the water from a shipwreck: flotsam is wreckage that floats up on its own, while jetsam is cargo deliberately thrown, or “jettisoned,” overboard to lighten a ship.

Toward, at, or near the front (bow) of a ship. Used in compounds such as forecastle and foremast.

The upper deck of a ship forward of the foremast, or historically the forward area below deck used as crew quarters; the name comes from a raised, castle-like fighting platform on medieval ships.

A pirate or lawless plunderer who takes booty independent of any government commission. The word comes from the Dutch vrijbuiter, “one who plunders freely.”

A fast, maneuverable, multi-decked warship, smaller than a full ship of the line, often used for escort, patrol, and combat duty by naval and pirate-hunting fleets.

A large, multi-decked sailing ship used from the 16th to 18th centuries by European powers, especially Spain, for trade, treasure transport, and war — frequently the prized target of pirate attacks.

The kitchen area aboard a ship where food is prepared for the crew; also, in an older sense, a low, oar-propelled warship.

A moveable board or ramp used to board or disembark a ship when it is docked. Also used loosely as a synonym for the fabled “plank” pirates supposedly forced captives to walk.

A passage or walkway allowing movement along or off a ship, or a call meaning “clear the way.”

Small iron balls bundled together and fired from a cannon, scattering on impact to inflict maximum damage on enemy crew and rigging rather than the hull.

A multi-pronged metal hook attached to a rope, thrown to snag an enemy ship’s rail or rigging and pull the two vessels together for boarding.

Rum diluted with water, historically issued to sailors to curb drunkenness while still providing a ration of alcohol. It is named for British Admiral Edward Vernon, nicknamed “Old Grog” for the grogram cloak he wore, who introduced the diluted ration in 1740.

A hinged opening cut into a ship’s hull through which a cannon could be run out and fired.

The upper edge of a ship’s or boat’s side, originally reinforced to support the weight of mounted guns, hence the name (“gun” + “wale,” or plank).

A rope or line used to raise and lower a ship’s sails or flags; the word derives from “haul” plus “yard.”

A long-lasting biscuit made from flour, water, and salt, baked hard and used as a staple ration aboard ships since it resisted spoilage, though it was notoriously prone to weevil infestation.

A thick, heavy rope or cable used for towing, mooring, or anchoring a ship.

To maneuver a sailing vessel’s sails and rudder so the ship comes to a near stop and holds a steady position, often used to ride out a storm or pause without dropping anchor.

The wheel or tiller used to steer a ship, and by extension the position of command; “at the helm” means in control of the vessel.

The act of raising a ship’s flag, including a pirate vessel’s Jolly Roger, often done just before attacking to announce identity and intent.

The interior storage space below a ship’s deck used to carry cargo, supplies, or plundered goods.

American slang, popularized in pirate fiction, meaning to swindle, deceive, or trick someone out of something.

The main watertight body of a ship, excluding masts, rigging, and superstructure, which sits in and displaces the water.

A common nickname for an ordinary sailor, especially in the British Royal Navy, possibly referencing the tar sailors used to waterproof rigging and clothing.

A triangular sail set forward of a ship’s foremast, extending toward the bowsprit, used to help steer and balance the vessel.

The traditional name for a pirate flag, most famously depicting a white skull and crossbones on a black field, flown to intimidate targets into surrendering without a fight. The name’s origin is debated, possibly from “Old Roger,” a nickname for the devil, or the French joli rouge (“pretty red”), an early color for privateer flags.

A makeshift, temporary repair improvised from available materials, especially to replace damaged masts or rigging at sea when proper parts were unavailable.

The main structural spine running along the bottom center of a ship’s hull from bow to stern, providing stability and the base on which the rest of the frame is built.

A brutal punishment in which an offender was bound with rope and dragged under the ship’s keel from one side to the other. The term comes from the Dutch kielhalen, “to haul under the keel,” a practice formally used in the Dutch navy from the 16th century until 1853.

A two-masted sailing vessel with a mainmast and a shorter mizzenmast set forward of the rudder, used historically for coastal trade and fishing as well as piracy.

A unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour, historically measured by counting knots on a rope (log line) paid out over a set time as it dragged behind the ship.

A mildly derisive term for someone unfamiliar with the sea or sailing, especially one clumsy or inexperienced aboard ship.

A short length of rope or cord used to secure equipment, tighten rigging, or fasten a tool such as a knife or whistle to a sailor’s person.

A historical unit of distance at sea, roughly equal to three nautical miles, commonly used in old maps and navigation before standardized metric measurement.

The direction toward which the wind is blowing, or the side of a ship sheltered from the wind; the opposite of windward.

An official government commission authorizing a private ship’s captain to attack and seize vessels of an enemy nation during wartime, legally distinguishing a privateer from an outlaw pirate.

The tendency of a ship to lean or tilt persistently to one side, often due to uneven cargo loading, flooding, or damage.

A large rowed boat carried aboard a sailing ship, used to ferry crew, supplies, or landing parties to shore when the main vessel could not dock directly.

A crew member stationed to watch for other ships, land, hazards, or approaching weather, often posted in the crow’s nest.

The tallest and most forward-central mast on a multi-masted sailing ship, typically carrying the largest sails.

An emergency call raised when a crew member has fallen into the sea, prompting an immediate response to stop the ship and attempt rescue.

A heavily armed sailing warship, typically operated by a national navy, representing the most powerful class of vessel a pirate ship might encounter or flee.

A pointed metal or wooden tool used by sailors to separate strands of rope for splicing, untie tight knots, or work with rigging.

To abandon a person deliberately on a remote island or coastline with minimal supplies, historically used as a pirate punishment for mutineers or troublemakers.

An informal term of address between sailors or shipmates, roughly equivalent to “friend” or “buddy.”

The mast positioned aft (behind) the mainmast on a three-masted sailing ship, generally shorter and carrying smaller sails.

A long-barreled, muzzle-loaded firearm used by sailors and pirates for ranged combat before and during ship boardings.

An open rebellion by a ship’s crew against the authority of its captain or officers, historically punishable by death under naval and maritime law.

A unit of distance used in sea and air navigation, equal to about 1.15 statute miles (roughly 1.852 kilometers), based on one minute of latitude along a meridian.

A declaration that no mercy will be shown and no prisoners taken; pirates sometimes hoisted a red flag (as opposed to the black Jolly Roger) to signal that resistance would result in no survivors.

Loose fiber made from unraveled old rope, soaked in tar and packed between hull planks to caulk and waterproof a wooden ship.

An affectionate term for an experienced, weathered sailor who has spent many years at sea.

The lowest deck of a large sailing ship, situated over the hold and often below the waterline, used for storage and, in warships, as a surgery station during battle. The name comes from the Dutch overloop, “that which runs over the hold.”

A temporary truce or negotiation called between opposing sides, especially to discuss surrender terms; from the French parler, “to speak.”

The common name for the Spanish silver dollar (real de a ocho), worth eight reales, which was often physically cut into eight wedge-shaped “bits” to make change, making it the classic pirate treasure coin.

The violent seizure of goods or property by force, especially during a raid on a settlement or ship.

One who robs or plunders at sea without lawful authority, distinguishing them from a privateer operating under a government’s letter of marque; from the Greek peirates, “one who attacks.”

A short, single-handed firearm favored by pirates for close-quarters boarding actions, often carried in pairs since reloading in combat was slow.

A legendary pirate execution method in which a captive was forced to walk off a board extended over the ship’s side into the sea. Despite its fame in fiction, historical evidence of pirates actually using it is scarce.

A marking on a ship’s hull indicating the maximum safe depth to which it may be loaded, named for British politician Samuel Plimsoll, who championed the Merchant Shipping Act of 1876.

To rob a place or person of goods by force, or the goods so stolen; commonly used interchangeably with “booty” or “loot” in pirate contexts.

A raised deck at the stern of a ship, forming the roof of the aft cabin, traditionally used for observation and signaling. The name comes from the French la poupe, meaning “stern,” ultimately from the Latin puppis.

The left-hand side of a ship when facing forward (toward the bow). Historically also called “larboard” before the term was standardized to avoid confusion with “starboard.”

An intermediate stop where a ship docks during its voyage to take on supplies, trade goods, or make repairs, before continuing to its final destination.

A young crew member, often a boy, whose job was to ferry gunpowder from the ship’s magazine to the cannons during battle.

A group of naval agents authorized to forcibly conscript, or “impress,” men into naval service, a common practice in the British Royal Navy during the 17th and 18th centuries.

A privately owned armed ship, or its captain, licensed by a government via a letter of marque to attack enemy shipping during wartime; legally distinct from a pirate, though the line often blurred in practice.

The forward part of a ship’s hull; a more literary or poetic synonym for “bow.”

The raised deck near the stern of a sailing ship, traditionally reserved for the captain and officers as the command center from which the ship was steered and the colors flown.

A senior officer responsible for provisions, equipment, and the division of plundered goods; on pirate ships the quartermaster was often elected by the crew and held authority nearly equal to the captain’s.

A mischievous or dishonest rogue; a playful term for a scoundrel, related to “rascal.”

To reduce the area of a sail exposed to the wind by partially rolling or folding it, typically done in strong winds or storms to maintain control of the ship.

The system of ropes, cables, and chains used aboard a ship to support the masts (standing rigging) and control the sails (running rigging).

A flat blade mounted at a ship’s stern, controlled via the helm, used to steer the vessel by deflecting water flow.

A distilled spirit made from sugarcane byproducts, the signature drink of Caribbean pirates and sailors, often issued as a daily ration or mixed with water to make grog.

To fire a warning cannon shot just ahead of another ship’s bow, signaling a demand to stop or surrender without yet firing directly at the vessel.

A hearty seafarer’s dish combining whatever meats, fish, eggs, vegetables, and seasonings were on hand, popular among sailors and pirates as a way to use up provisions before they spoiled.

A slang term for an experienced, hardened sailor, drawing on the association of salt water with a long career at sea.

A mischievous or rascally person; a mild, often affectionate insult for a scoundrel or troublemaker, popular in pirate-themed speech.

A drainage opening along the edge of a ship’s deck that lets seawater or rainwater run off overboard rather than flooding the deck.

A disease caused by vitamin C deficiency, common among sailors on long voyages who lacked fresh fruit and vegetables; also used as a general insult (“scurvy dog”) meaning contemptible or low.

To deliberately sink a ship, typically by cutting or opening holes in its hull, often done to prevent a vessel from being captured or to collect insurance.

Originally a cask (butt) with a hole cut, or scuttled, into it to hold the ship’s drinking water, around which sailors gathered and gossiped; the word came to mean rumor or gossip itself.

An old or experienced sailor, especially one who has spent a lifetime at sea; historically also applied to famed Elizabethan privateers such as Francis Drake.

The physical adjustment and balance that allows a person to move steadily aboard a rolling ship, or figuratively, the experience needed to feel comfortable in a new situation.

A navigational instrument used to measure the angle between a celestial body, such as the sun or a star, and the horizon, allowing sailors to determine their ship’s latitude.

To kidnap or trick a person, often by drugging them, into involuntary service as a sailor, a practice named after Shanghai, a common destination for ships crewed by abducted men in the 19th century.

A rhythmic work song sung by sailors to coordinate labor such as hauling ropes or raising the anchor, with call-and-response verses timed to repetitive tasks.

The official written record of a ship’s voyage, including navigation details, weather, crew conduct, and significant events, maintained by the captain or an appointed officer.

Neat, orderly, and well-organized, in the manner expected of a well-run ship.

An exclamation of shock or surprise, imagining a ship’s wooden timbers shaking or splitting from the force of a cannon strike or rough sea. Its stock use in pirate speech was popularized largely through 19th- and 20th-century fiction.

Standing rigging made of ropes or cables that run from a ship’s masthead to the sides of the vessel, bracing the mast against sideways strain.

A small, lightweight boat, often rowed or sailed, used for short trips between a larger ship and shore.

The classic pirate flag emblem of a white human skull over two crossed bones on a black background, used to intimidate targets before boarding.

A small, fast, single-masted sailing vessel favored by pirates for its speed and maneuverability in coastal waters and shallow inlets.

An old naval expression, originally referring to a child born aboard ship (sometimes literally on the gun deck between cannons) to a sailor of uncertain identity; it evolved into a general, often affectionate, term for a rogue or scoundrel.

To measure the depth of water beneath a ship, traditionally using a weighted, marked line lowered from the bow.

The historical term for the mainland coastal territories of the Spanish Empire bordering the Caribbean, including parts of present-day Central and South America, a prime hunting ground for pirates and privateers targeting Spanish treasure fleets.

Any wooden or metal pole used to support a ship’s rigging, including masts, yards, and booms.

Originally an order to repair the mainbrace, a critical rigging line controlling the mainsail’s yard, considered such demanding work that it earned the crew an extra ration of rum; it later became a general phrase for authorized celebratory drinking.

A small, handheld telescope used aboard ships to spot distant vessels, land, or approaching danger.

A sudden, violent windstorm, often accompanied by rain, that can strike quickly and endanger a sailing ship’s rigging and stability.

A sailing ship whose principal sails are set on horizontal yards perpendicular to the keel, forming roughly square or rectangular shapes, common on large ocean-going vessels of the pirate era.

The right-hand side of a ship when facing forward. The term derives from the Old English steorbord, referring to the steering oar early ships mounted on the right side.

The rearmost part of a ship’s hull, opposite the bow.

To pack or store cargo, supplies, or equipment securely aboard a ship so it does not shift during the voyage.

A flamboyant, adventurous fighter or pirate, from “swash” (to swagger) and “buckler” (a small shield), originally describing a noisy show of swordplay.

To turn a sailing ship’s bow through the wind so as to change direction, a maneuver necessary for sailing toward the wind since a ship cannot sail directly into it.

A system of ropes and pulleys (blocks) used aboard ship to gain mechanical advantage when hoisting sails, cargo, or heavy equipment.

An expression for being extremely drunk, derived from a loose “sheet” (the rope controlling a sail) flapping uncontrolled in the wind; sailors reportedly graded drunkenness on a scale from “one sheet” to “four sheets.”

The wooden structural beams and planks forming a ship’s frame and hull, referenced in the classic exclamation “shiver me timbers.”

A sail set above the mainsail or lowest sail on a mast, used to catch additional wind and increase a ship’s speed.

A chart, often stylized in fiction, marking the location of buried plunder; while a romantic staple of pirate legend, real pirates rarely buried treasure or used such maps, as most loot was spent or divided quickly.

A designated shift of duty aboard ship, during which part of the crew is on active duty while others rest; also the group of sailors assigned to that shift.

Any deck of a ship left uncovered and exposed to the open air and weather, as opposed to enclosed decks below.

To raise a ship’s anchor from the seabed in preparation for departure; “weigh” here comes from an old sense of “to lift.”

A structure built along a shoreline where ships dock to load or unload cargo and passengers.

The direction from which the wind is blowing; sailing “windward” means heading toward the source of the wind.

A popular phrase and trope indicating the exact location of buried treasure on a map, largely a product of pirate fiction rather than documented historical practice.

Either end of a ship’s horizontal wooden yard, the spar that a square sail is hung from; historically also a place condemned sailors could be hanged in naval punishments.