Piratical
Term |
Meaning |
Account |
- |
Going on the Account, embarking on a cruise of piracy |
Acts of Pardon, or Grace |
- |
A grant of amnesty given to reformed pirates. |
Admiral |
- |
From the arabic "Amir", lord or commander, with the article "al" as in "Amir-al-bahr", commander of the sea. The buccaneers often called the captain in charge of a fleet of pirate ships the Admiral. |
Adrift |
- |
At the mercy of the wind and tide. In naval slang it means being late, overdue or absent from place of duty. |
Affy-Davy |
- |
Slang for Affidavit, or oath |
Aft |
- |
The rear or back end of a vessel, known to land lubbers as "the blunt end". |
Ahoy |
- |
Synonym for "yo!" or "oi!" commonly followed by "matey". |
Akbar |
- |
An Arabic title meaning "very great", often applied to Barbary corsair captains e.g. Akbar Khan. |
Albatross |
- |
The largest of web footed birds, called the Cape sheep by sailors from it's frequenting of the Cape of Good Hope. It was said to sleep in the air with no apparent movement of it's wings. Sailors say to shoot one is fatal. Privateer George Shelvocke shot an albatross while rounding Cape Horn in 1720, and was dogged by bad weather for the rest of his voyage. |
Algerine |
- |
Like a tangerine, but more bitter. A Barbary corsair from the port of Algiers. |
