Vocabulary of Pirate Ships

Vocabulary of Pirate Ships

• Starboard: Right side of a ship.
• Larboard (Port): Left side of the ship.
• Poop Deck: Partial deck above the main afterdeck.
• Quarter Deck: Upper deck area reserved for officers.
• Main Deck: The uppermost sheltered deck, the first deck that runs the vessel’s length.
• Gun Deck: Deck equipped with cannons, other than the weather deck.
• Bilge: Lowest part of the ship's interior where the hull curves into the bottom.

Structural Components of Ships

• Keel: The main centerline structure or the extension of the hull that enhances stability.
• Galley: Kitchen located on a ship.
• Forecastle: Upper deck at the front of the ship, pronounced "FOKE-sul."
• Figurehead: Decorative carving located at the front of the ship.
• Bowsprit: Sturdy spar extending forward from the bow, supporting the mast and rigging.
• Whipstaff: Lever for moving the rudder, attached to the tiller.
• Tiller: Lever used for steering the boat by controlling the rudder.
• Rudder: Hinged plate at the rear and bottom used for steering.

Ship Operations and Systems

• Capstan: Revolving cylinder for winding rope or cable, powered manually or by machine.
• Watch System: Crew divided between port and starboard watches, working shifts of four hours.

Types of Vessels and Their Roles

• Privateer: Individual or crew authorized to capture enemy ships during wartime, holding a letter of marque.
• Buccaneers: Self-governing pirates from the Caribbean who targeted international shipping.

Historical Figures and Events

• Sir Francis Drake: Notable for circumnavigating the globe from 1577 to 1580, raiding in the West Indies for Britain.
• Bartholomew Roberts: Welsh pirate active from 1719 to 1722, notorious for raiding ships along the Americas and West Africa.
• Daniel Defoe: Author of Robinson Crusoe, recognized as the father of the English novel.

Shipping and Piracy Terminology

• Letters of Marque: Government-issued permits allowing privateers to attack enemy ships during wartime.
• Corsairs: Term for Muslim pirates.
• Caravel: Small, maneuverable three-masted ship used in Atlantic exploration.
• Sloop: A fast one-masted sailboat with high speeds over 10 knots, capable of swift attacks.
• Schooner: A sailing ship with multiple masts, typically gaff-rigged.
• Brigantine: Two-masted ship, square-rigged on the foremast and fore-and-aft rigged on the mainmast.
• Dutch Fluyt: Cargo-efficient ship design, wide and flat-bottomed, not known for speed.