Nowadays the expression means to make a mistake or to ruin something. Meaning the anchor rope has become entangled. Often followed by "and fancy-free" for emphasis. The expression came to mean "free to do what one wishes" since one has no ties or responsibilities.
#PIRATE LINGO FREE#
When a sail is left free and untied at its bottom edge. The expression came to mean lying down exhausted or failing to keep to an appointment or commitment. The practice of laying an anchor flat on deck so that it could be easily thrown overboard without entangling the anchor rope. The top rating or class of naval ships, typically those with more than 100 cannons on board. The chest in the song is not a box of treasure but the small island Dead Man’s Chest (now called Dead Chest Island) in the British Virgin Islands.
The lines are:ĭrink and the devil had done for the rest. Fifteen Men on a Dead Man’s ChestĪ pirate song invented by Robert Louis Stevenson for his 1883 novel Treasure Island. The tattered ends of an old rope, used to refer to a cigarette butt or the remains of anything of not much value. The expression came to mean to receive a reprimand. The unpleasant task of re-waterproofing sails while they were fully rigged. The expression was used as a toast when drinking alcohol. To put cargo through the hatch and into the hold. The largest gold coin (just under an ounce) minted by the Spanish for use in Spain and colonies in the Americas from the 16th century. Nowadays, it has come to mean "dispose of" in general.
It may refer to throwing things overboard and was the minimum depth for burials at sea, hence it became a euphemism for committing a corpse to the sea. Waters greater than six fathoms in depth (36 ft / 11 m). Most pirates through history did not kill their victims but either left them alone, recruited them, or sold them as slaves. Dead Men Tell No TalesĪ phrase attributed to pirates (without any evidence) to mean that murdered captives could not bear witness to an act of piracy. The expression has no connection with the English pirate David Jones. Jones keeps the souls in his locker, which is any sea or ocean and not a particular place.
Samuel Scott (Public Domain) Davy Jones’ LockerĪn expression first used in the mid-18th century to refer to the sea where the souls of dead mariners are collected by the evil spirit Davy Jones. To "cut loose" has the same meaning, while "cut to the chase" is similar in that rigging was hastily cut to make sails ready as fast as possible to pursue another vessel. The practice of cutting the anchor cable with an axe rather than hauling it on board, done to save time and make a quick departure from a risky situation. The term derives from the cracking noise made by ropes and sails made taut by a strong wind. When the watch ended and the information was noted in the logbook by the captain or an officer, the slate was wiped clean. It derives from the practice of writing navigational readings and the occurrences of a watch (period of 24 hours) on a slate board. Meaning all is well and ready to start anew. Meaning "packed with people" but deriving from the occasion when two rigging blocks are so close together that the ropes are at their limit and the sail can no longer be manoeuvred. Often, if the whipper was not deemed vigorous enough, he risked being whipped himself, and to ensure the blows were always powerful, the whipper was changed every 12 strokes. Each of the nine 'tails' had at least three knots in them to make the whip even more likely to damage its victim. It was made of nine lengths of rope attached to a single length with a wooden handle. Cat-O-Nine-TailsĪ long whip in use from the 16th century to maintain discipline on board ship. Unwanted land clothes and old ropes left on shore before setting sail. Bring your Arse to AnchorĪ common drink for pirates of the Caribbean, made from rum, water, sugar, and nutmeg. Brethren of the CoastĪ name given to pirates of the Caribbean (although they themselves never used it). Typically only divided at the end of a voyage after sale, an extra share was given to those who had suffered injuries.
The goods captured, which were then distributed, often surprisingly fairly amongst the pirate crew.