ARRRGH! TALK LIKE A PIRATE

Each year, September 19th is International Talk Like A Pirate Day. Have a little fun sprinkling your speech with a few "arrrghs," an occasional "avast there, matie," and the odd "ahoy."

By Captain Ray
Published: September, 2008 

But do you realize how many commonly used expressions come from the sea? It could be said that we all talk like pirates all the time. The origins of some phases, such as a wide berth or a little leeway, are quite obvious, while others are much more obscure. Here are a few examples of the latter.

In the days of wooden ships, the ocean swell caused the edges of the planks to work against each other and move slightly. The seams between the planks had to be filled with a flexible material called oakum that would allow for this movement and, at the same time, keep mostly out the water. This job, that is, pounding the oakum into the seams, was known as paying the seam. As the vessel flexed, the largest seams that moved the most—and therefore had to be recaulked most frequently—were those located just below the main deck. Because these were the most difficult part of the job, they became known as the devil. This is where the devil to pay originated, and, as you can see, it has nothing to do with money.

In order to do this job, the seamen had two choices. They could lean over the side of the vessel and work with their head down for hours at a time; or, they could rig a boatswain chair so they could work upright as they hung over the side of the vessel. Thus, they were between the devil and the deep blue sea.

For most of the time that humans have ventured out onto the watery parts of the earth’s surface, navigation was a visual affair. In fog, darkness, or other conditions that caused the land to be lost from sight, sailors would have to resort to whatever worked. It was known, for instance, that crows disliked large bodies of open water. Therefore vessels carried cages of crows. When necessary a crow would be released from the highest masthead—also known as the crow’s nest—and the crow would fly directly to the nearest land. The ship would then sail as the crow flies.

The petty officer of the watch used to record all courses steered and distances run during a watch with chalk on a slate kept near the helm. At the change of watch they would wipe the slate clean. This is also the origin of starting with a clean slate.

If a square-rigger was caught unawares by an unforeseen shift in the wind, the sails could be pushed backward hard against the masts and shrouds. This would slow the ship and could bring her to a complete stop. In this sudden and unexpected state, the ship could not answer its helm and was said to have been taken aback.

Aye, matie; enjoy this year’s Talk Like A Pirate Day!