Pirate Parley Primer

Purpose

This is a basic phrasebook of pirate slang as spoken in the early 19th century. Some of the phrases appear to be unique to the Pits due to the literal rubbish of society washing up there and bringing their own languages along.

Pirates would nickname each other after a particular habit or quirk, if it was obvious. A bossy pirate might be jokingly called "Tutor" on shore.

Someone who absolutely couldn't pick up how to fight with swords, but only blunt weapons, could theoretically be called Quarterstaff So-and-so.

Common Phrases

Greetings and Exclamations

Ahoy

Hello.

Arr / Yarr

Generic gloss for grunts.

Avast

Stop that!

Belay

See Avast

Directions

Bow

Front of ship.

Stern

Back of ship.

Port

Left of ship.

Starboard

Right of ship.

Cultural

Landlubber

Someone unfamiliar with sea life.

Pirate's duelling code

A general set of rules that pirates work by if they attack each other at sea. Common sense includes not stealing the entire losing crew's treasure, but only enough to cover your repairs and crew's basic share. Uniquely, pirates in the Pits will not sell human prisoners into slavery if no ransom is paid.

Rubbish dumps

Metaphorically, where pirates live, as they are considered society's rubbish.

Society's rubbish

People who couldn't be accepted by respectable society anywhere, for any reason, ranging from serious ones like treason to petty ones like constant snobbery.

Seeing red and green

Getting incredibly angry and jealous at once. Derives from both the English phrase "green with envy" and the Chinese "red-eyed envy (yanhong)."

Walked the Bodhisattva trade route.

Someone who really likes Indian culture or is part-Indian, especially with partial Chinese heritage. Can refer to couples where one of the partners is Indian.

Actions

Blow someone down

To hit someone very hard.

Careen

Intentionally crash a ship on land in order to clean it.

Get sea legs

Get used to walking on a ship.

Going on the account

To become a pirate for any reason.

No prey no pay

Pirates only can claim their pay if they work for it.