A – B – C – D – E – F – G – H – I – J – K – L – M – N – O – P – Q – R – S – T – U – V – W – X – Y – Z
A[]
Abandon ship[]
- "Abandon ship!"
- ―Gillette
To leave completely and finally, ceasing to operate or inhabit a vessel, commonly in response to an impending threat. Given as an order by a ship's officer.[1]
Able seaman[]
- "Just watch me make able seaman ahead of you."
"Non, it is I who will attain it before you!"
"Not a chance, frog! See, it takes brains to make able seaman. And courage!"
"Ze Englishman never lived who had either!" - ―Lucius Featherstone and Etienne de Ver
A seaman with at least two years' experience at sea. Traditionally, they made about twenty-five percent more in pay than ordinary seamen.
Accord[]
- "If you spring me from this cell, I swear on pain of death, I shall take you to the Black Pearl and your bonny lass. Do we have an accord?"
"...Agreed."
"Agreed. Get me out." - ―Jack Sparrow and Will Turner
Agreement or concurrence of opinion, will, or action. An agreement or harmony of things in general between parties in controversy.
Admirable[]
- "Admirable though it may be, why are you here when you could be elsewhere?"
"Someone has to stay and guard the chest."
"There's no question, there's a breakdown in military discipline on this vessel." - ―Jack Sparrow, Murtogg, and Mullroy
Deserving of the highest esteem or admiration.
Adrift[]
- "None. But, one of the ships did pick up a man adrift at sea. "
- ―Ian Mercer to Cutler Beckett
To be at the mercy of the wind and tide. In naval slang, it means being late or overdue for one's duty.[1]
Adventure[]
- "So that's it, then? That's the secret grand adventure of the infamous Jack Sparrow? You spent three days lying on a beach, drinking rum?"
- ―Elizabeth Swann to Jack Sparrow
The encountering of risks; hazardous and striking enterprise; a bold undertaking, in which hazards are to be encountered, and the issue is staked upon unforeseen events; a daring feat.
Aft[]
- "Aft to port!"
- ―Bursar
Situated towards the stern or tail (rear) of a vessel. Opposite to bow. [2]
Afterlife[]
- "Life is cruel. Why should the afterlife be any different?"
- ―Davy Jones
The basic term for life after death. The duty of the Flying Dutchman was to ferry souls who die at sea to the other side, into the afterlife.
Age of Piracy[]
- "You command in an age of piracy where bold captains sail free waters. Where waves aren't measured in feet, but as increments of fear, and those who pass the test become legend."
- ―Elizabeth Swann to Sao Feng
The name given to the era of the Fourth Brethren Court.[2]
Alchemy[]
- "Him a lord of alchemy."
- ―Tia Dalma on the Shadow Lord
An influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners' claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone, the ability to transform base metals into the noble metals, gold or silver; and the elixir of life, which confers youth and immortality. The Shadow Lord was the most powerful alchemist the Seven Seas had ever known.
Ale[]
- "Let me guess. Ale, ale, ale and...oh, probably another ale?"
- ―Arabella Smith
An intoxicating liquor made from an infusion of malt by fermentation and the addition of a bitter, usually hops.
All hands on deck[]
- "All hands on deck! Set to the longboats!"
- ―Blackbeard
A nautical order, on board a ship, for all seamen of all watches to muster on deck immediately; normally shortened to All hands.
Aloft[]
Place descrition for anything or anyone found in the rigging.
Ambush[]
- "I don't care for the situation. Any attempt to storm the caves could turn to an ambush."
"Not if you're the one doing the ambushing." - ―James Norrington and Jack Sparrow
An ambush is a long-established military tactic, in which combatants take advantage of concealment and the element of surprise to attack unsuspecting enemy combatants from concealed positions.
Amidship[]
Generally, anything in the vicinity of the center of the ship; technically, the precise midpoint between fore and aft structural lines.
James Sterling uses an anchor as a weapon against the Spanish Conquistador
Anchor[]
- "Lower the starboard anchor! Do it you gobs! Or it's you we'll load into the cannons."
- ―Joshamee Gibbs to the crew of the Interceptor
An anchor is a heavy object, often made out of metal, that is used to attach a ship to the bottom of a body of water at a specific point to act as a weight to keep the ship from moving. There are two primary classes of anchors—temporary and permanent. A permanent anchor is often called a mooring, and is rarely moved; it is quite possible the vessel cannot hoist it aboard but must hire a service to move or maintain it. Vessels carry one or more temporary anchors which may be of different designs and weights. A sea anchor is an unrelated device: a drogue used to control a drifting vessel.
Angel[]
- "Mr. Greene, he been tellin’ me ’bout some history that happened, oh, ’bout three hundred years ago. He said you French folk had a lady warrior, and she rode a white horse. She dressed up in armor and fought battles. I said that hard to believe. He said it be true. Is it?"
"Oh, yes, it is true. He was speaking of Jeanne d’Arc, you would say Joan of Arc, the holy martyr. She was a peasant maid who heard the divine voices of the angels telling her to lead the armies of the King." - ―Chamba and Etienne de Ver
A supernatural being or spirit, usually in humanoid form, found in various religions and mythologies, usually messengers or warriors of God.
Apoplexy[]
- "But... but... how could this little scratch 'ave done for 'im, Mr. Sparrow?"
"I suspect it was an apoplexy, Mr. Tomlin. He wasn't a young man." - ―Edward Tomlin and Jack Sparrow
A sudden, usually marked loss of bodily function due to the rupture or occlusion of a blood vessel.
Aqua de Vida[]
- "No, wait, wait! Wait. 'Aqua'...'de Vida'."
- ―Jack Sparrow reading from the Chalices of Cartagena
"Aqua de Vida" inscribed in the Chalices.
The other name of the Fountain of Youth. In Latin, the term "Aqua" means "water", while "de Vida" means "of life". Jack Sparrow discovered that to enter the Fountain's chambers, he must speak the words "Aqua de Vida", which were inscribed upon the two Chalices of Cartagena.
Archipelago[]
An archipelago in the Caribbean Sea.
A chain or cluster of islands.
Armada[]
- "There's still a fight to be had."
"We've an armada against us, and with the Dutchman, there's no chance."
"There's only a fool's chance." - ―Will Turner, Joshamee Gibbs, and Elizabeth Swann
A fleet of warships, especially with reference to the Spanish Armada. Though it could be use as reference to any large army or fleet of military vessels, such as Lord Cutler Beckett Armada.
Arrr[]
- "Arrr!"
- ―Hector Barbossa
The archetypal pirate word that can essentially mean anything, usually a response in the affirmative "yes" or general exclamation used among pirates. It can also be used as a growl or snarl-like noise.
Arrest warrant[]
- "The warrant for the arrest of one William Turner."
"This warrant is for Elizabeth Swann."
"Is it? That's annoying. My mistake. Arrest her." - ―Cutler Beckett and Weatherby Swann
A document issued by a judge or magistrate on behalf of the state which authorizes the arrest and detention of an individual accused of a crime into custody.
Astronomy[]
Astronomical map carved into the wall by Carina Smyth.
- "You’re a witch!"
"Sir, I am no witch. I simply made application to study astronomy at the university—"
"You what?" - ―George Swift and Carina Smyth
The scientific study of stars, planets, and other objects in outer space.
Atlantis[]
Atlantis (in Greek, Ἀτλαντὶς νῆσος, "island of Atlas") was a legendary island located in the Atlantic Ocean. According to Plato's work, written about 360 BC, Atlantis was described as a naval empire that fell out of favor with the deities and "in a single day and night of misfortune" disappeared into the depths of the sea.
Auctioneer[]
A person who conducts an auction on behalf of a vendor, taking bids to find the best price for the vendor. A pirate served as an auctioneer during the Age of Piracy.
Avast[]
- "Everyone stay calm, we're taking over the ship."
"Aye, avast!" - ―Jack Sparrow and William Turner
A command to stop or desist, commonly "hold! stop!". [3]
AWE[]
Abbreviation of At World's End, third film in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
AWEvg[]
Abbreviation of At World's End (video game), a game based on the second and third films of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
Aye[]
- "Bell, I need you to make a sea anchor-grab anything heavy you can, like a barrel or Fitzy's bag, whatever—something that will give us drag. Tie a rope to it firmly and feed it off the aft end. Got it?"
"Aye, aye." - ―Jack Sparrow and Arabella Smith
"Aye, aye", usually shortened to simply "aye" in operational situations, was a naval response indicating that an order has been received, is understood, and will be carried out immediately.
Cursed Aztec gold medallion
Aztec Gold[]
- "This is Aztec gold. One of 882 identical pieces they delivered in a stone chest to Cortés himself."
- ―Hector Barbossa to Elizabeth Swann
The gold of the Aztecs. Mostly associated with the cursed treasure of Cortés, a trove of 882 Aztec Gold coins, each emblazoned with a skull, given in a stone chest to Hernán Cortés as a payment to stop his ravaging of the Aztec people in the conquest of Mexico. Because of his greed, Cortés took the gold and continued slaying thousands more. As a result, the heathen gods placed a curse on the gold, in which any who took the gold were stricken would be consumed by greed yet eternally empty.