A pirate’s life for me

What is the Davy Jones locker, anyway? 10 cool pirate terms explained

Image: David Dibert

Alongside cowboys and knights, pirates have always been a playtime staple. These historical figures have inspired countless childhood adventures, as well as several timeless characters from movies and books like Captain Hook or Long John Silver. In that sense, pirates’ carefree lifestyle also influenced their unique vocabulary, which has become as synonymous with their culture as their roguish exploits have. We have selected 10 of the most iconic terms and phrases from pirate slang to help us relive those endless afternoons playing with our friends. Enjoy!

Image: Steven Beyer

What’s a better way of welcoming you to this article than with a typical pirate salute? "Ahoy" is a versatile sailing term that can be used for greeting, bidding farewell, or simply catching the attention of someone. Being the seafaring adventurers that they were, this word is ever-present in pirate vocabulary and still playfully used by sailors everywhere.

Funnily, the origins of this word can be traced back to a landscape on which a pirate would not be particularly comfortable: Cattle herding. Apparently, "ahoy" comes from adding an extra letter to "hoy", a common English call to drive cattle.

Image: Palle Knudsen

The term "scallywag" (also sometimes spelled "scalawag") describes someone who is well-regarded, although he behaves in a somewhat mischievous manner. You can see how this term is now synonymous with pirates: Although these sea bandits were once deeply feared and despised, they are now looked at in a cheekier and devilish light.

What’s interesting is that scallywag was not a popular term during the time when pirates were most prominent (late 17th and 18th century). In fact, it most likely came into use during 19th century America, when the first pirate novels and plays were published.

Image: Sabina Kallari

Leave it to pirates to turn a simple wooden plank into a dreadful symbol. "Walking the Plank" describes a method of execution in which the accused is forced to walk on a wooden plank extended over the side of the ship, often bound and blindfolded.

While nowadays this technique is heavily associated with pirate culture, few (if any) real-life cases of people forced to walk the plank have been documented. In truth, it seems that it has become such a staple from its frequent use in literature and movies featuring pirates.

Image: Mateusz Dach

"Shiver me timbers" is an expression that was probably never uttered by a real pirate, but it has become so ingrained in this culture that it is difficult to find a fictional pirate who hasn’t said this phrase at least once. With hindsight, it seems only natural that this phrase has become so popular since it was first said by one of literature’s most iconic pirates.

In Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1883 classic "Treasure Island", the character of Long John Silver (considered by many to be the quintessential fictional pirate) says variations of "shiver me timbers" seven times throughout the novel. These exclamations were used to denote Long John’s surprise, anger, or annoyance, but they all denote an extreme shock, since the timbers referenced are the wooden support frames that hold a ship together.

Image: Anthony 🙂

Yeah, we know: "Argh" is not a word, but it is the go-to expression for any wanna-be pirate. Want to strike fear into the hearts of your seafaring enemies? Or maybe you just want to add an extra layer of drama to that Halloween costume. In any case, this onomatopoeia is the ultimate sound of anyone who chooses to impersonate a dreaded corsair.

This entry should be titled "sounds with an R associated with pirates", since other similar-sounding onomatopoeias like "yarr" or "‘arr" are also insanely popular. In that sense, trying to trace the origins of these sounds can be a rather daunting task. However, most sources agree that this type of pirate snarling was inspired by actor Robert Newton’s many groundbreaking pirate roles, including Long John Silver in the 1950s adaptation of "Treasure Island" and Blackbeard in 1952s "Blackbeard the Pirate".

Image: Jadon Barnes

No, we are not referring to a locked metal compartment where a man named Davy Jones might store his gym equipment. In truth, Davy Jones is the pirates’ very own boogeyman, a legendary spirit hellbent on taking sailors’ lives. In that sense, the expression "Davy Jones’ locker" is used to describe the final resting place of many dreaded pirates: The bottom of the sea.

The first written mention of Davy Jones is attributed to Robinson Crusoe’s author, Daniel Defoe, who mentions in a book the story of an enraged captain threatening to throw his crew to "Davy Jones’ Locker". Some believe the legend was inspired by a real pirate called David Jones, who sailed through the Indian Ocean in the 17th century.

Image: Tanhauser Vázquez R.

You would think that, for an honest person, being called a pirate would be insulting enough, but did you know that there’s an adjective that can be added to give an extra kick to the deceitful nature of corsairs? By today’s standards, the word "hornswoggling" sounds downright silly, but its meaning is less charming: to "hornswoggle" someone means to cheat or deceive them, usually for monetary gain.

Although the phrase "hornswoggling buccaneer" perfectly describes most pirates, this quirky word is by no means exclusive to them, since it is also associated with cowboys and gunslingers. In any case, we can’t end this entry without reiterating this warning: It doesn’t matter if it sounds like a Dr. Seuss character; don’t trust any hornswoggler you come across.

Image: Amy Syiek

Have you ever wondered why the quintessential pirate flag is called a "Jolly Roger"? Don’t you agree that the name seems a little too cheerful for such an ominous and threatening symbol? Unless the sunny disposition of a fellow named Roger inspired the first of these black flags, this name doesn’t really make sense.

Well, the truth is that no one really knows when the term Jolly Roger was first used, although we can be certain that it is not connected to the name Roger. The most prevailing theory points to the fact that pirates originally raised plain flags to indicate their would-be targets their intentions, where a red flag meant that no quarter would be given. In that sense, many believe that the term "Jolly Roger" comes from the French expression Joli Rouge, which translates to "pretty red".

Image: N.

Would you believe us if we told you that this entry features the most insulting word on this list? Granted, for us non-pirate folks the term "landlubber" doesn’t seem that harsh, but trust us: If you ever call a pirate this, be prepared for a loud and angry response.

As you might have guessed, "landlubber" is a discouraging adjective used to describe anyone not versed in the seafaring ways of the pirates. Basically, anyone who is more comfortable at land than at sea. You can see how a pirate might take offense to this, seeing as how sailing skills are an incredible source of pride for any corsair worth their salt.

Image: Lisa Fotios

We’ll end this article with a pirate term for comradery, which at the end of the day is one of the many things that pirates can teach us: How it feels to belong in a crew. Although pirates were definitively deceitful outlaws, they were bound by a code of honor that focused on trusting in your commander and your crewmates with your life.

In that sense, the word "matey" is one of the most affectionate things a pirate can say to another. This term, which is used for a friend or a comrade, seems to come from the French word matelot, which means "sailor" or "seaman". If you want to end up with more than a few pirate friends, then this is the word for you!

Medical mysteries

Hearing colors? 10 rare medical conditions you won't believe

Image: Hush Naidoo Jade Photography

The human body is full of surprises, and even if you think you've seen it all, some cases defy everything you thought you knew. Some conditions are so strange they sound made up, but they're very real! If you are interested in the wonderful world of medicine, here are 10 medical conditions that are equally rare and fascinating!

Image: Tim Arterbury

The word aphantasia comes from Greek roots and means "without image formation." People with this condition are unable to create mental images. In other words, they can't "see" the sea or a flower in their mind, nor can they remember things visually. It's estimated that about 2.5% of the population has aphantasia, though many might not even realize they have it!

Image: Icons8 Team

If we told you that some people can hear colors or taste sounds, you might think we're making it up. But we're not! Synesthesia is a rare condition in which stimulating one sense automatically triggers another. While each person experiences it differently, these sensory connections stay consistent for them over time. Studies show that people with synesthesia often have stronger memory and creativity.

Image: Alexandra Tran

Some sources claim that French Queen Marie Antoinette's hair turned completely gray overnight just before her execution. This event inspired the name "Marie Antoinette syndrome," also known as canities subita, an extremely rare condition in which a person's hair suddenly turns totally gray over a short period of time.

Image: Jarritos Mexican Soda

If you ever wake up speaking with an unfamiliar accent, you might have what's known as foreign accent syndrome. As the name suggests, this rare condition causes sudden changes in speech rhythm or pronunciation, making it sound like the person has developed a foreign accent. It typically occurs after head trauma or injury, but it's extremely rare: only about 100 cases have been officially reported since it was first identified in 1941.

Image: Sander Sammy

As you know, synesthesia causes some senses to overlap. But there's one type that even involves other people's senses. Mirror-touch synesthesia is a condition in which a person feels physical sensations on their own body when they see someone else being touched or injured. It's believed that about 1.6% of the world's population may have mirror-touch synesthesia, making it rare but not extremely uncommon.

Image: Laura Fuhrman

If we asked what you were doing on a specific day five years ago, you probably wouldn't remember, just like most people. But those who can recall such details have hyperthymesia, also known as Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM). It's a very rare condition in which a person can recall almost every detail of their life with incredible accuracy and little effort. Only about 60 cases have been documented worldwide.

Image: Kanishk Agarwal

Some people don't feel pain, and not because they lack empathy, but because they have a condition called Congenital Insensitivity to Pain (CIP). It's present from birth and causes those affected to feel no physical pain. While it might sound like a superpower at first, it can be dangerous because injuries may go unnoticed without any warning. People with CIP can still feel touch and detect temperature changes.

Image: Graham Ruttan

Alice in Wonderland syndrome can occur when the patient suffers from other conditions, such as migraines or viral infections. Much like Lewis Carroll's famous character, people with this syndrome may experience distortions in the size of objects, their surroundings, or even their own bodies. Most commonly seen in young people, the syndrome often fades with age.

Image: Alexander Grey

There's a condition that makes it difficult for a person to recognize faces, even those of close friends, family members, or sometimes even their own reflection. It's called prosopagnosia, and it affects about 2% of the population. People with this condition usually rely on voices, hairstyles, or other cues to identify others. This condition doesn't affect a person's memory or overall vision.

Image: Manki Kim

As unbelievable as it may sound, some people develop skin reactions when they drink or come into contact with water. This condition is called aquagenic urticaria and is sometimes referred to as "water allergy," even though it's not a true allergy because it doesn't involve the immune system in the usual way. Aquagenic urticaria is extremely rare, and its symptoms typically last between 30 and 60 minutes.