The Pirate Dictionary

Reading through these words and phrases is an abbreviated trip through history, with lists of major naval mutinies, a summary of the slave trade, and even jokes. This dictionary is written to be entertaining as well as informative, to give a flavor of the interesting times from the fifteenth to …

Reading through these words and phrases is an abbreviated trip through history, with lists of major naval mutinies, a summary of the slave trade, and even jokes. This dictionary is written to be entertaining as well as informative, to give a flavor of the interesting times from the fifteenth to the eighteenth centuries when pirates controlled many sea lanes. It also contains a treasure trove of factual information about life aboard the ship, important pirate haunts, and technical terms.

We hear the terms “steer clear of,” “hit the deck,” “don’t rock the boat,” and “to harbor a grudge” and give little thought to their origin. Left together on ships for months, and often for years, pirate crews developed expressions that made their way into common usage. This dictionary is written to be entertaining as well as informative, to give a flavor of these interesting times from the fifteenth to the eighteenth centuries, when pirates controlled many sea lanes. It also contains a treasure trove of factual information about the life aboard ship, important pirate haunts, and technical terms.

About the Author:

Terry Breverton is an expert on pirates and Welsh history.