Talk Like a Pirate Day

International Talk Like a Pirate Day officially arrives on September 19. But by Jose Gaspar's mustache, every day is Talk Like A Pirate Day in Tampa Bay! Nowhere knows pirates like the home of legendary buccaneer José Gaspar and Gasparilla, the annual festival held in his honor.

If you’re having trouble telling your “avast” from a whole round of other scurvy words, there’s no risk of walking the plank. The Tampa Bay History Centers’ “Treasure Seekers” exhibit shows how modern English is trove of terms that come from the age when pirates sailed the seas.

By the spirit of Jose Gaspar, here are some ways you already speak pirate!

TURN A BLIND EYE

Thank British naval hero Admiral Nelson for this one. When he didn’t want to see the signal to stop bombarding Copenhagen in 1801, he held his telescope up to his blind eye.

CHEW THE FAT

Today it means to chat. For pirates, it was more literal: about eating their daily ration of tough -- and very chewy – salted pork or beef.

FLUNKY

Back then, it was the name for the captain’s steward. Today, it is considerably less favorable.

JURY RIG

Today, it means slap something together quickly and haphazardly. For pirates, it referred to the jury mast – a temporary pole set up to replace a damaged mast.

LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG

No felines involved in this one. The “Cat” was the cat-o-nine-tails, a leather whip that was kept in a bag until it was removed to punish a sailor.

PASS WITH FLYING COLORS

When ships wanted to be recognized, they ran up colorful flags to identify themselves.

UNDER THE WEATHER

Then, going below-decks (inside the ship) to stay out of the wind and rain. Today, it means to feel sick or out of commission.

WHOLE NINE YARDS

Always thought this was a football reference? No way. It refers to a pirate ship with all its sails (three years of canvas per mast) deployed and running full of wind.

Learn More

Check out this video that explains Tampa Bay's love of all things pirate!

For more pirate lingo, check out: