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cable - A heavy rope or chain for mooring or anchoring a ship.
cackle fruit - Hens eggs.
capstan - An apparatus used for hoisting weights, consisting of a vertical spool-shaped cylinder that is rotated manually or by machine and around which a cable is wound.
careen - To take ia ship into shallower waters or out of the water altogether and remove barnacles and pests such as mollusks, shells and plant growth from the bottom. Often a pirate needs to careen his ship to restore it to proper speed. Careening can be dangerous to pirates as it leaves the ship inoperable while the work is being done.
carouser - One who drinks wassail and engages in festivity, especially riotous drinking.
case shot - A collection of small projectiles put in cases to fire from a cannon; a canister-shot.
Cat o'nine tails (or cat) - a whip with nine lashes used for flogging. "A taste of the cat" might refer to a full flogging, or just a single blow to "smarten up" a recalcitrant hand.
Chain Shot - Two cannonballs chained together and aimed high in order to destroy masts and rigging.
chandler, or ship-chandler - see sutler.
chantey (also chanty, shantey or shanty) - A song sung by sailors to the rhythm of their movements while working.
chase - A ship being pursued. ie: "The chase is making full sail, sir" translates to "The ship we're after is going as fast as she can."
chase guns - cannon situated at the bow of a ship, used during pursuit.
clap of thunder - A strong, alcoholic drink.
clipper - A fast moving ship.
code of conduct - A set of rules which govern pirates behavior on a vessel.
coffer - A chest in which treasure is usually kept.
cog - A small warship.
come about - to bring the ship full way around in the wind. Used in general while sailing into the wind, but also used to indicate a swing back into the enemy in combat.
Corsair - (1) A pirate, especially along the Barbary Coast; a romantic term for pirate. This term was used for Christian and Muslim privateers in the Mediterranean between the 16th and 19th centuries. The Barbary corsairs centered on North African states and were often "hired" by Muslim nations to attack Christian ships. The Christian Corsairs were known as the Maltese corsairs and they took their orders from the Knights of St. John to attack the Turks. (2) A pirate ship, often operating with official sanction.
coxswain - A person who usually steers a ship's boat and has charge of its crew.
crack Jennys tea cup - To spend the night in a house of ill repute.
crimp - To procure (sailors or soldiers) by trickery or coercion, or one who crimps.
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, heavy sword with a curved blade used by pirates and sailors. The sword has only one cutting edge and may or may not have a useful point.
dance the hempen jig - To hang.
Davy Jones' Locker - A fictional place at the bottom of the ocean. In short, a term meaning death. Davy Jones was said to sink every ship he ever over took, and thus, the watery grave that awaited all who were sunk by him was given his name. To die at sea is to go to Davy Jones' Locker.
deadlights - (1) Strong shutters or plates fastened over a ship's porthole or cabin window in stormy weather. (2) Thick windows set in a ship's side or deck. (3) Eyes. ie: "Use yer deadlights, matey!"
dead men tell no tales - Standard pirate excuse for leaving no survivors.
doubloon - A Spanish gold coin.
draft - The depth of a vessel's keel below the water line, especially when loaded; the minimum water depth necessary to float a ship.
draught (also draft) - (!) The amount taken in by a single act of drinking. (2) The drawing of a liquid, as from a cask or keg.
driver - A large sail suspended from the mizzen gaff; a jib-headed spanker.
execution dock - The usual place for pirate hangings, specifically on the Thames in London, near the Tower.
fathom - A unit of length equal to six feet, used principally in the measurement and specification of marine depths.
fire in the hole - A warning issued before a cannon is fired.
fire ship - A ship loaded with powder and tar then set afire and set adrift against enemy ships to destroy them.
flogging - The act of beating a person severely with a rod or whip, especially the cat or the punishment of being beaten.
fluke - The broad part of an anchor.
Fo'c's'le (or Forecastle) - (1) The section of the upper deck of a ship located at the bow forward of the foremast. (2) A superstructure at the bow of a merchant ship where the crew is housed.
fore (also forrard) - At, to, or toward the front end of the ship.
furl - To roll up and sec...
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