# Pirate talk I don't understand **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 17, 2001, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirate-talk-i-dont-understand/50506 "2001-01-17T14:07:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirate-talk-i-dont-understand/50506/41 "2016-11-27T17:52:27Z")
> [@London\_Calling](#): > > According to my handy little Modern English Dictionary a ‘lubber’ is a “Clumsy, stupid fellow or an untrained seaman” > > You planning on a change in career direction, aha ? The term “lubber” was a derogatory precursor to terms like “white trash” and probably came here from England with the Pilgrims. Other terms included “clay eater”, “cracker” and others. It generally meant as you noted, with the additional meaning of “someone without land”. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirate-talk-i-dont-understand/50506/42 "2016-11-27T18:06:09Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Shiver me timbers refers to cannon fire hitting the wood ships. The splinters became very deadly. I should point out that in the book Treasure Island, Long JOhn Silver never says “Shiver me Timbers”, he always says “Shiver My Timbers”. Disney is responsible for the more modern take of Pirate Talk with their version of Tresaure Island. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirate-talk-i-dont-understand/50506/43 "2016-11-27T18:12:05Z")
> [@Snnipe\_70E](#): > > Forecastle became focsal On this site, you must spell that word properly: fo’c’s’le ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirate-talk-i-dont-understand/50506/44 "2016-11-27T18:23:02Z")
> [@leahcim](#): > > I always took it as just being a pirate-y way of saying “land lover” and didn’t consider the possibility that may not be right. Reminds me of one of my favorite New Yorker cartoons: [http://www.condenaststore.com/-sp/You-know-what-I-d-like-to-try-someday-Landlubbing-New-Yorker-Cartoon-Prints\_i8478407\_.htm](http://www.condenaststore.com/-sp/You-know-what-I-d-like-to-try-someday-Landlubbing-New-Yorker-Cartoon-Prints_i8478407_.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirate-talk-i-dont-understand/50506/45 "2016-11-27T19:13:11Z")
To win a pirate contest all you need to know is “what is a pirate’s favorite letter?” ---
**Author:** ![DtypeJag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@DtypeJag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DtypeJag)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirate-talk-i-dont-understand/50506/46 "2016-11-27T19:19:34Z")
Another one – Ahoy mateys! Have ye any women on board? No, well that do bring a tear to me eye! - Robert Newton ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2016, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirate-talk-i-dont-understand/50506/47 "2016-11-27T22:40:37Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > On a sailing ship, the sailors would always be hauling on ropes to change the configuration of the sails. Not as often as you’d think. Get in a consistent wind (depending on your latitude) and you could go for days without having the haul the braces, take in, or set any more sails. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirate-talk-i-dont-understand/50506/48 "2016-11-28T00:01:20Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > On this site, you must spell that word properly: fo’c’s’le You would think after spending time there I could get it right. But every time I go to write it I come up blank. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirate-talk-i-dont-understand/50506/49 "2016-11-28T00:08:50Z")
> [@Snnipe\_70E](#): > > You would think after spending time there I could get it right. But every time I go to write it I come up blank. Arrgh!! Jus’ be remembrin’ vowels be precious like booty. Syllables too. Don’ be wastin’ em an soon you be spellin’ all piraty. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirate-talk-i-dont-understand/50506/50 "2016-11-28T00:44:17Z")
> [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#): > > To win a pirate contest all you need to know is “what is a pirate’s favorite letter?” It’s either Arrrr or Sea ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirate-talk-i-dont-understand/50506/51 "2016-11-28T03:23:23Z")
I always wondered about what pirates mean when they speak of having a wench between the sheets. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2016, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirate-talk-i-dont-understand/50506/52 "2016-11-28T06:09:43Z")
> [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#): > > To win a pirate contest all you need to know is “what is a pirate’s favorite letter?” > [@Spiderman](#): > > It’s either Arrrr or Sea “You may think it be Arrr, but me first love be the sea…” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirate-talk-i-dont-understand/50506.md?page=2)