Acts of Pardon or Acts of Grace: a �pardon� making a �reformed� pirate into a legal privateer
Avast: cease or stop
Bachelor�s Wife: mistress
Barque: three masted sailing ship, with a square rigged mainmast and a fore-and-aft rigged mizzen
Barquentine: somewhat like a barque, but with only the foremast square rigged
Boom: a spar that extends the foot of a sail
Bowline: rope attached to the side of a sail to pull it forward
Bowsprit: long, tapered spar extending from the bow of a ship, used to attach stays for the masts
Brig: used to be an abbreviation of �brigantine� now is a square rigged vessel with two masts
Brigantine: two masted vessel, with a square rigged foremast and a fore-and-aft rigged mainmast
Buffer: chief Bo�sun�s mate in charge of discipline
Bumboat: boat privately selling merchandise to sailors in the harbor
Cable: large rope
Capstan: vertical cylinder that rotates to bring in anchor and other cable
Careen: to lean a ship over on its side on the beach in order to clean and repair her hull
Chain Shot: cannon balls fastened together with chain
Crimp: one who has been put into service by a press gang
Cutter: small vessel with one mast
Draft: minimum depth necessary to keep a ship afloat
Fathom: six feet of water (depth measurement)
Frigate: fully rigged, three masted ship with 28 to 38 pound guns
Furl: roll a sail close to the yard, stay, or mast to which it belongs
Gaff: spar that holds upper edge of a fore-and-aft sail which has four sides
Go on the Account: set out on a voyage of piratical nature
Heave to: stop
Jack o� Coins: paymaster
Jack o� Cups: first mate
Jack o� Staves: first lieutenant
Jack o� Swords: Bo�sun
Lanyard: rope that ties something off
League: three miles
Lee: side not facing the wind
List: lean to one side
Mainmast: principle mast
Messdeck Lawyer: know it all
Midshipman: non-commissioned rank below lieutenant
Mizzen: mast closest to the stern on a three masted vessel
Old Coat (aka �Stripey�): veteran sailor
Pinnace: small two masted vessel or an eight oared ship�s boat
Press Gang: group of sailors who �recruit� new �volunteers� for naval service
Privateer: officially commissioned pirate
Quarter: 1) portion of the side of the ship, nearest to the stern 2) mercy shown to an opponant
Reef: rolling up the bottom of a sail and tying it with short lines attached to the sail in order to shorten it
Rigging: ropes, chains, and wires that hold masts, spars, and yards and control a ship�s movement
Scuppers: holes in deck near the bulwarks used for drainage
Sheet: line attached to the bottom aft corner of a sail, used to adjust it to the wind
Shrouds: standing rigging running from side of the ship, used to support
the mast Sloop: single masted sailing vessel with fore-and-aft rigging
Squadron: group of no more than ten warships
Square Rigged: four cornered sails are hung from yards
Start: hit with a rope or cane-used as punishment for sailors believed to be slacking
Strike the Colors: lower a ship�s flag; a sign of surrender
Sweet Trade: piracy
Tackle: ropes and blocks
Weigh: to raise (as in �anchors aweigh!�)
Yard: spar attached to a mast to carry a sail
Yawl: small sailing boat or four oared ship�s boat
