![]() ![]() In 1841, a Nantucket mariner wrote his will strewn with nautical language. So what is a kettle halyard? That stumps me, but I suspect it was a kettle attached to a halyard, either for hoisting fish aloft for drying purposes, or to assist in bringing newly caught fish into the boat. That is, unless you reside in a nautical community such as Nantucket, Massachusetts.Ī newspaper article from the Idaho Register in 1916 reported that “Nantucket speech is a museum of nautical expression.” A departing guest might hear, “Well, a fair wind to you,” and “women’s work” was referred to as “tending the kettle halyards.” Unless you know maritime terminology, you might not realize that a halyard is a rope (known on a boat as a line) used to hoist items, such as sails. When researching ancestral voyages in newspapers, you’ll find that maritime language varies vastly from that on land. This blog article provides a fun quiz to see how well you know old nautical terms and phrases, then defines the terminology using examples from historical newspapers. Sailing ships, steamships, and sea travel were a big part of our ancestors’ lives, something genealogists often encounter when searching their family history. Mary is a genealogist, author and editor with a strong technology background. But this was also a trick that smart pirates used to avoid becoming the target of another ship.Introduction : In this article, Mary Harrell-Sesniak provides another fun quiz to test your knowledge of nautical terms and phrases you may encounter in your family history research-and provides examples from historical newspapers. When a ship flies a yellow flag, it indicates the presence of an ill crew member, such as yellow fever. Prisoner is ordered to walk off the board overlapping the ocean, which results in drowning and presumably a meet-up with Davy Jones Locker.Īn order to the crew to pull up the anchor and get this ship sailing! Mop or clean the ship’s deck and floorboards Lower a ship’s flag to indicate surrender Something like, “Holy Cow!” a surprised or shocked expression The ship is managed and clean, everything is under control This is what you become after you walk the plank When a sailor adjusts his balance from riding on a boat for a long time The pirate is calling you an insulting name Warning shot given to another boat’s CaptainĪ question asking, “Do you get it?” or “Do you understand?”Ī kidding type of word that a superior pirate might call one of the rookie pirates (Not the toilet!) This is a part of the ship above the Captain’s headquarters at the farthest point back Robbery performed at sea, often to another ship The ship’s crew received no wages however they got a part of the loot or treasure When crew gang up against the Captain of the ship or other authority The 3rd mast from the ship’s bow of bigger ships To be abandoned with no food, drink, or possessions Leave someone stranded on a deserted island with no supplies, which was a common punishment for any crew members who disrespected or dishonored the Captain The pirate who keeps watch for land or oncoming shipsĪ pirate ship that is decked out and prepared for battle Government-issued letters allowing privateers the right to piracy of another ship during wartime Painful punishment whereby the pirates drag a person side-to-side under the pirate ship and they get cut up by the planks and barnacles from the bottom of the shipĪn inexperienced or clumsy person who doesn’t have any sailing skills “Dance with Jack Ketch” means to hangĪ rope ladder used to climb aboard a boatīlack pirate flag with white skull and crossbones Someone with a red nose from drinking too frequently, alcoholicĬheat or defraud someone out of assets or moneyįlag flown at the front of ship to show nationality Warning given to crew before a cannon is firedĪ phrase pirates used to say they were turning into a pirate Term for spending the night with a prostituteĪ small lookout platform near the mast to see long distancesĪ thick, heavy and rather short sword blade for piratesĪ mystical fable about an evil spirit from the bottom of the ocean that draws pirates or sailors down to their deathĪn expression meaning no survivors left behind Song sung together by sailors or pirates in unison, while they workĪn order to kill a man by cutting across his chest from the shoulders to stomach. Reckless or loud person who drinks excessivelyĪ special kind of whip that has 9 strands The most vulnerable angle of a ship that runs the length of the boat The Captain’s command to get rid of a personĪ reward for capturing a known criminal, such as a pirate Tie everything down and put stuff away for a coming storm. addressed to groupĪ crew member says this to the Captain, meaning “I will get that done right away!” Pirate catch phrase of grumbling or disgust ![]()
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