Codex:B

The Codex: B
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

B

Bailiff

Bailiff was a title of a legal officer to whom some degree of authority, care or jurisdiction is committed. A man served as bailiff during Joshamee Gibbs' trial in the Old Bailey.

Bayonet

Governor Swann using a bayonet.

"Charge your bayonets!"

―East India Trading Company lieutenant

A blade adapted to fit the muzzle end of a rifle and used as a weapon in close combat. [1] Officers of the Royal Navy and the East India Trading Company employed bayonets.

Bearing

"Mr. Sparrow, you will accompany these fine men to the helm and provide us with a bearing to Isla de Muerta. You will spend the rest of the voyage contemplating all possible meanings of the phrase 'silent as the grave'. Do I make myself clear?"
"Inescapably clear."

―James Norrington and Jack Sparrow

The horizontal angle between the direction of an object and that of true north; subject to variation and deviation when taken by a magnetic compass. Direction or relative position.

Belay

"Belay that, or we'll be a sitting duck!"
"Belay that 'belay that'!"

―Hector Barbossa and Jack Sparrow

To stop what you are doing, commonly given as an order to a ship's crew. Literally means to tie something down or make it fast. [2]

Before the mast

"One hundred years before the mast. Losing who you were, bit by bit. 'Til you end up, end up like poor Wyvern here."

―Bootstrap Bill Turner

Referring to a common sailor, derived from a sailor's position in the forecastle, forward of the foremast; also used to refer to an unlicensed sailor. [3]

Bicorne

A bicorne hat.

The bicorne or bicorn (two-cornered) was an archaic form of hat widely adopted in the 18th century as an item of uniform by European military and naval officers. It was most notably worn by officers of the East India Trading Company.

Bilge

• The rounded portion of a ship's hull, forming a transition between the bottom and the sides;
• To damage a ship's hull so as to create an entry for seawater.
• Slang for nonsense or stupid talk. [4]

Bilge rat

"You pirates are worse than bilge rats!"

―Unknown citizen of Port Royal to Chevalle

A pirate insult, with both words having derogatory connotations (bilge being the lowest portion of a ship's hull). [5]

Black gold

"Ivory, gold, black gold... Afrique is a rich hunting ground for the wolves of the sea."

―Christophe-Julien de Rapièr to Jack Sparrow

Another term for a black slave.

Blackguard

"Blackguard!"

―Hector Barbossa to Jack Sparrow

It could mean a scoundrel, an unprincipled contemptible person, or an untrustworthy person. Some people, like Jack Sparrow and Davy Jones, were called blackguards by their actions. It is sometimes alternatively spelled as "Blaggard".

Blacksmith

John Brown's blacksmith shop in Port Royal.

"Mister Turner, you are not a military man; you are not a sailor. You are a blacksmith."

―James Norrington to Will Turner

The profession of a person who creates objects from iron or steel by "forging" the metal (by using hand tools to hammer, bend, cut and otherwise shape it in its non-liquid form). Blacksmiths work in forges or smithys, such as John Brown's smithy, where Will Turner worked as Mr. Brown's apprentice.

Blood money

"This is Aztec gold. One of 882 identical pieces they delivered in a stone chest to Cortés himself. Blood money paid to stem the slaughter he wreaked upon them with his armies. But the greed of Cortés was insatiable. So the heathen gods placed upon the gold...a terrible curse."

―Hector Barbossa to Elizabeth Swann

Money paid by a killer, or on his behalf, to one of his victims' next of kin.

Blow me down

"Well, blow me down! The legends are true—there it is!"

―Bo'sun concerning the Aztec Idol

A saying after being told of something surprising, shocking or unexpected.

Board

• The side of a ship;
• One leg, or tack, of the course of a ship beating to windward;
• The act of "boarding", or entering, a ship ("board"; "on board"; "aboard");
• For a ship to come up alongside another, commonly to attack;
• To "go by the board", to go over the ship's side [6]

Bootlegger

"David Williams - Much Feared Bootlegger"

―David Williams' tombstone

Someone who makes or sells illegal liquor. [7]

Bounty

An amount of money given to somebody for their services to someone.

Bow

The forward end of a vessel; opposite to aft or stern. [8]

Brig

The term "brig" can refer to several things: a type of two-masted vessel square-rigged on both masts; also used to refer to a place of confinement aboard a ship.[9]

Brothel

"What were you doing in a Spanish convent, anyway?!"
"Mistook it for a brothel. Honest mistake."

―Angelica and Jack Sparrow

A brothel is an establishment dedicated to prostitution, providing the prostitutes a place to meet and to have sexual intercourse with clients.

Buccaneer

Henry Morgan, the most notorious buccaneer of the 17th century

"You know, for having such a bleak outlook on pirates, you are well on your way to becoming one. Sprung a man from jail...commandeered a ship of the fleet, sailed with a buccaneer crew out of Tortuga...and you're completely obsessed with treasure."

―Jack Sparrow to Will Turner

Another term for a Caribbean pirate, commonly any pirate and privateer who raided Spanish colonies and ships along the American coast in the second half of the 17th century. [10] The most common buccaneer haunts were Tortuga, Jamaica and Hispaniola.

Byzantine Empire

The civilization of the Eastern-Roman empire, between 331 A.D. when the capital was moved to Constantinople and up 1453 when it was conquered by the Turks. They were best known as the inventors of Greek fire.