The pirate Captains were selected because they were respected, not because they were feared. The carpenter, who generally answered to the boatswain, was in charge of ensuring the ships structural integrity. Often overlooked, the Striker was a native of the West Indies, typically from Darien or the Mosquito Coast. New Quick View. The prisoner was encouraged to proceed with a cutlass point or by being shot at. It is also the title of an officer on both merchant and naval ships charged with looking after the stowage of cargo, organising the daily tasks of the crew, and who ensured the captain's or other officers' orders were obeyed. The expression comes from the flapping of signal flags in the Royal Navy. Pirate didn't trust authority and therefore saw no reason to let all the power of a ship rest on one man. March 2, 2023, 8:46 a.m. by TobyMac. Most pirate crews were composed of either mutineers or those captured by other pirates and forced to join them or be killed (the latter case was certainly the most common defence plea in pirate trials). The punishment is also applicable to the captain. Pirate Ship lets you purchase USPS and UPS postage and print shipping labels at the cheapest rates available with no markup, fees, or minimums. In use from the 17th century, it was a command to stop a particular action like pulling on rigging to hoist a sail. Blood Lightening. In this article, we examine some of the more common expressions and slang terms that pirates, and mariners in general, have been credited with, where they came from and what they really meant. Striker:Complete Collection Volume 20. Having a nice long coat & plenty of pricey pistols showed that one was a successful leader of pirates. The pilot needed to know such aspects as the ship's draught (how deep she sat in the water) how wide the ship was and how sharply she could turn. He made his decisions based on time on how much room the ship had. If the adjustment is over $10, the fee becomes $2. Pirate captains were known to maroon troublemakers, deserters, cowards, and thieves, usually leaving them without provisions or even clothes. A slang term used in the Royal Navy to mean something is very difficult to find. Anne Bonny and Mary ReadBenjamin Cole (Public Domain). advertisements. During the so-called "Golden Age of Piracy," thousands of pirates, buccaneers, corsairs, and other scurvy sea dogs worked the seas, robbing merchantmen and treasure fleets. On a pirate ship, new comers would serve the function of powder monkeys. Longitude could still not be measured with accuracy in this period and so practical experience was a great advantage. First Mate had rank just below the Captain. You are given the rates from all chosen carriers, and they have amazing discounts (up to 75% off . The Queen Anne's RevengeQualiesin (CC BY-SA). In pirate fiction, it is often used as a euphemism for a prostitute. The grease was often saved by the cook and sold at the end of the voyage to candlemakers and tanners. In fact, when Blackbeard blockaded the port of Charleston, the only thing he asked for was a large chest of medicines. An experienced boatswain was a very valuable man who often got a share-and-a-half of loot. Overview. The pirate ships usually did not have surgeons aboard. Trained navigators were able to use the stars to determine a ship's latitude and therefore could sail from east to west with reasonable ease. Sailor in the regular navy were often treated miserably by their Captains. However, cooks usually were not butchers; they were just crewmembers whose assignment was food preparing. Not quite as rude as it sounds, the 'monkey' was a brass metal tray on which iron cannonballs were neatly stacked in a pyramid. On a more broad term, the sea artists was anyone who could maneuver ships over great distances with little or no difficulty, an expert seaman. In everyday life, Captains did not have much more rights than any other crewmember. Archpirate Used since antiquity to refer to a pirate who commands a fleet of vessels. Pirates could and did use very small boats, even canoes when nothing else was at hand. Marooner was applied to Caribbean pirates in the same period. The lines are: Fifteen men on the dead mans chest This refers to the common practice in the Royal Navy of dishing out punishments like floggings on a Monday. Cartwright, M. (2021, August 27). The expression survives in modern marine salvage where "no cure, no pay" means the vessel must be first successfully salvaged before crews are paid. Some were also capable of determining longitude using lunar observations (taking lunars). Their main purpose was to kill people on deck before boarding, and not to destroy ships. Striker is the captain of the -Insert crew name here- Pirates. Those that had them probably pressed surgeons into service. He was, then, the equivalent of a merchant First Mate or a naval First Lieutenant. There was, too, a greater sense of involvement in the ships affairs, since very often key decisions and the distribution of booty were organised along democratic lines. The Quartermaster, depending on the circumstances and the pirate ship was the second in command. The buccaneers who roamed the Spanish Main and the pirates who Pirates in the Golden Age of Piracy (1690-1730) both dished out During the Golden Age of Piracy (1690-1730), pirates were first Pirates have gained a reputation for wearing bright and distinctive Pirates in the so-called Golden Age of Piracy (1690-1740) used Konstam, Angus & Rickman, David & Rava, Giuseppe. Avast! Mariners sometimes cut the peso into eight pieces for smaller transactions and two of these pieces became known as "two bits", a term later used in US coinage. Some victims were given a pistol so that they could shoot themselves. It later came to mean foul-weather clothing which was similarly baggy. Unlike the Royal Navy or merchant service, in which the captain was a man with a great deal of nautical experience and complete authority, a pirate captain was elected by the crew, and his power was only absolute in the heat of battle or when giving chase. 4, 2003, pp. Pirates were first and foremost sailors and in the Golden Age of Piracy (1690-1730), a pirate ship required a great deal of skill to operate and constant maintenance to keep afloat. Quartermaster is a military term, the meaning of which depends on the country and service. Don't see a crew member listed here? A hard life at sea was a young mans game & so few pirates were aged over 40. With a good navigator, a pirate captain could arrive exactly where he knew merchant ships frequently sailed and he could negotiate dangerous shallows and islands, which would offer excellent places to ambush a passing ship. A good captain had to be able to judge when a potential ship could outman them, as well as know which quarry would be easy pickings. "Resume of a Seventeenth-Century Top-Secret Weapon: The Story of the Mount Independence Cannon." Many powder monkeys were probably pressed into service, being kidnapped by press gangs and forced to serve aboard ship. Boatswains were junior officers. After the captain, the quartermaster had the most authority aboard ship. Striker is the third vessel in the Submarine branch of the Tech Tree, using a different model and different stats. A skilled gunner was a very valuable part of any pirate crew. They were people who supervised all activities on a ship. To be a pirate, that is part of a ship which raises a black flag like the Jolly Roger to warn other vessels they must surrender or face violent consequences. While pirate crews had no formal rankings, as such, some seamen were definitely above others in terms of their knowledge and experience. Who's Who in a Pirate Crew. The Navy ships of the various countries were usually commanded by the privileged class, not necessarily because of any inherent skill but just because that was the way it was done. To qualify for life on a pirate ship as the lowest-ranked seaman, the skills required were to be able to manage sails (extending, reefing, and furling), to steer, and to take soundings; being handy with a weapon was a distinct bonus, as was not being too particular about ones company. Somalia is considered the most notorious producers of today's pirates, with a huge percentage of them coming from this country. The principal officers of a pirate ship were the captain, the quartermaster, the pilot, the boatswain, and the master gunner. Recruits might also come from mariners tired of the hard work and discipline expected on merchant and naval ships - not to mention the poor pay - or those who could take no more of the harsh conditions endured by such occupations as Newfoundland fishermen. 3, 2012, pp. Captain. Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Our mission is to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. I just wanted to share a GREAT resource I recently found out about - this may help you too if you need to ship items, but dont want to go into the post offic. When electing a Captain, the crew looked for someone who was capable of commanding and navigating a ship. They watched for the safety of their man and usually aimed the cannons themselves. (More severe offenses went before a pirate tribunal.) To deliberately leave a mariner without help, typically on a small uninhabited island. If a more senior office came aboard, the previously highest ranked flag was taken down one peg and the new flag put above it. Meaning all is well and ready to start anew. As few mariners knew the mysterious art of navigation, the ships navigator was often called the Artist. Check out the Lexicon. old salt - a sailor that has a great deal of experience on the seas. Not only do we pay for our servers, but also for related services such as our content delivery network, Google Workspace, email, and much more. Thank you! Web. In fact, on some ships , the Captain had no more power than every other pirate on board except in times of battle. Tom Hopper as Billy BonesStarz (Copyright, fair use). The practice of cutting the anchor cable with an axe rather than hauling it on board, done to save time and make a quick departure from a risky situation. A fictional pirate expression with no particular meaning that first appears in Robert Louis Stevensons 1883 novel Treasure Island. Also, it was crucial that captain has courage and skill in both, sword and pistol fighting. At gunpoint, the Fratellis make The Goonies empty their pockets of their collected treasure. A slang term in use from the 13th century to refer to both the act of piracy (or theft in general) and the booty taken by pirates. His reserve of this fat or slush was his "slush fund". The Bos'n was one of them. The goods captured, which were then distributed, often surprisingly fairly amongst the pirate crew. 61, no. Education was required and on non-pirate ships, it was a well-paid job. Powder Monkeys had little hope of promotion, were often deserting. https://www.thoughtco.com/positions-duties-on-a-pirate-ship-2136230 (accessed March 2, 2023). Blood-Thirsty Rover. Carpentry was an extremely useful skill onboard ship and good carpenters were highly valued. Meaning the anchor rope has become entangled. To prevent commotion and random fire, usually the most experienced gunner was elected as a Master Gunner. The World History Encyclopedia logo is a registered trademark. Gunners were leaders of small man groups, who operated on the artillery. Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter! Finally, on some ships, except when in battle the quartermaster might actually hold a position above the captain, especially in matters of punishment and rations. Medicines were worth their weight in gold. Speed was of the essence and so superstructures might be removed to reduce weight and increase speed and manoeuvrability. The name of a rope mop used by mariners to wash or 'swab' the decks. The helmsman, the man who steered the ships wheel, was usually supervised by the quartermaster who, skilled in navigation, was also concerned with the ships general course and with recording its speed, although this role could be taken by a pirate captain or a sailing master (who was expert in the ships sailing capabilities in all conditions). This was a typical pirates answer to the question "where are you from?" When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. If the Captain were to go against the vote, then he too would be in violation of the Articles of Piracy, and would most likely step down from command and new leader would be chosen. Like the carpenter, blacksmith, and cooper, this was a specialist artisan job, and the man skilled at it need not necessarily know any other skills of seamanship. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. A pirate quartermaster (as opposed to one on more legitimate vessels) was often the second-in-command, and below him were the first and second mates. While The Goonies are raiding the pirate loot, the Fratellis surprise them. Typically, the term referred to the ship's navigator. Used from the 18th century to attract attention, for example, the sighting of a ship, but later to simply mean "hello there". Long John Silver of Robert Louis Stevensons Treasure Island is the most famous fictional example (at least in films since in the book he is described as having only crutches), but there were several real pirates with a wooden leg, most notably the Dutch captain, the rather splendidly named Cornelis Corneliszoon Jol (d. 1641). Generally chosen for his daring and dominating character, a pirate captain often was admired for his cruelty and destructiveness. The bos'n is often a petty officer. Originally, on board a sailing ship such as a man-of-war or a galleon, the boatswain was in charge of a ship's anchors, cordage, colors, deck crew and the ship's boats, and would also be in charge of the rigging while the ship was in dock. To make good speed. On the other hand, if the pirates were caught, the captain could expect the worst judgement of the authorities. Pirate Crew: Positions and Duties. A surgeon was typically the only person kept on board who was not required to sign articles. Typically one man would be the master pilot who would work with the navigator and captain to pilot the ship over the water. For more information on avoiding these adjustments, check out the UPS resource: How to Avoid Shipping . Meaning to reduce a persons rank or reduce their inflated opinion of themselves. Trained doctors were hard to find, and when ships had to go without one, often times a veteran sailor would serve in their stead. Quite often, in the movies you see the captain of the ship giving the orders but in real life the captain would rely on the pilot of the ship to do such a task. Note: When UPS adjusts a shipment, they also charge a "Shipping Charge Correction Audit Fee." If the total adjustment UPS imposes on your shipment is under $10, this correction audit fee is $1. In many cases, a pirate captain was the ultimate law and there was no quartermaster or the quartermaster and captain worked as if captain and first mate. ThoughtCo. Musicians such as a fiddler and trumpeter were a part of any crew, including pirate ships. Pirate crews in the Caribbean during the Golden Age were made up of all nationalities, but the majority were either British or colonists from the Americas. That said, Pirate Ship is way more intuitive to use and has much better-batching capabilities-- we just were looking for more of an all-in-one solution. Waters greater than six fathoms in depth (36 ft / 11 m). The cabin boy is typically a young boy of privileged birth who is sent to sea to learn the maritime trade. The end of the anchor rope which was attached to a wooden post or bitt on the ship. An expression first used in the mid-18th century to refer to the sea where the souls of dead mariners are collected by the evil spirit Davy Jones. The idea may derive from 1st-century BCE Cilician pirates who, according to Plutarch (c. 45 - c. 125 CE), made Roman captives walk along a ladder on water. The coxswain (who could be a bosuns mate and is pronounced 'coxn') steered the ship (when he could be known as the helmsman) and was in charge of any small boats on board - useful for going ashore, exploring shallows, and boarding other vessels. This is of course, the largest dimension of a ship and is easiest to attack with larger arms. They were also expert at use dead reckoning methods for determining longitude. The expression came to mean lying down exhausted or failing to keep to an appointment or commitment. They were not kept aboard for the seaman ship, their job was to catch fish and kill Spaniards. Web. Cooks weren't butchers and had little training. Written by Pirate Ship. It could refer to silver coins or ingots and under maritime law came to mean treasure of any kind. World History Publishing is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. They were expert hunters who: Their knowledge of local plants aided in collecting edible fruits and vegetables as well as medicinal plants and herbs.Their expert ability at hunting and fishing earned them a spot among the crew, Their hatred of Spain assured their loyalty and ferocity in battle. Each of the nine 'tails' had at least three knots in them to make the whip even more likely to damage its victim. But it is safe to assume that if a Captain had a bad cruise with little to show for it and the end of it, it would be difficult for him to raise a new crew in the future. In the first half of the 17th century, mariners in the Royal Navy were served pure beer, but this was later replaced by pure rum. Mary Rose - Anthony RollGerry Bye (Public Domain). If they managed to live a few years, they might eventually make it to a position of more importance on the ship. A common drink for pirates of the Caribbean, made from rum, water, sugar, and nutmeg. Life on a pirate ship was much less strict and regimented than it would have been aboard a Royal Navy ship or merchant vessel of the time, however, everyone was expected to do their jobs. The sea artist was also an expert at reading the ocean, able to tell shallows and hidden reefs from deep waters and able to determine if storms were coming. Rather, a wench was someone warm-hearted. It was also the quartermaster who did the dividing, with the crew's supervision. Cite This Work He oversaw activities such as dropping and weighing the anchor, setting the sails, and making sure the deck was swabbed. "Who's Who in a Pirate Crew." Admiral Edward Vernon, whose nickname was Old Grogram, decided to dilute the rum with water in 1740 and so the weaker drink became known as grog. It was a monumental find, and more than 30 years after its discovery, the Whydah Gally (also known simply as "Whydah") remains the only fully authenticated and positively identified pirate shipwreck ever . There were also those who were attracted by the idea of a life at sea and an escape from the monotony of their job on land. There was always a big gap between common sailor and officer. If there was a skilled navigator aboard a prize ship, pirates would often kidnap him and force him to join their crew. Another name for the peso, a Spanish silver coin widely accepted as currency in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries in the Americas, and which was worth eight silver reales. Pirate with TelescopeStarz (Copyright, fair use). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. The chest in the song is not a box of treasure but the small island Dead Mans Chest (now called Dead Chest Island) in the British Virgin Islands. Possessing such knowledge often would make a person the second mate if he were not already the first mate or captain. Mark is a full-time author, researcher, historian, and editor. Now more familiar as the name for the disease caused by a deficiency of vitamin C, but from the 15th to 17th century, this was a scathing insult which conveyed utter contempt of a person. (If your last name is Cooper, somewhere far back in your family tree, there was probably a barrel maker.) Like the captain, the quartermaster could be voted in or out of office by the crew. Quartermasters often inflicted punishments such as floggings. It was a very hard job because charts in those days were usually inaccurate or nonexistent. If a hangmans scaffold or ladder were not available then the person about to be hanged stood on a bucket until it was kicked away from under their feet. orlop - lowest deck in the ship where cables are stored. Under these "masters" would be a series of mates. With his skills at leadership, navigation, and sheer charisma, a pirate captain earned his double share of the loot captured compared to other crew members. Musicians were often forcibly taken from ships pirates attacked. A term used from the 13th century to refer to a woman, often a prostitute, although it was not originally an insult. Cartwright, Mark. On a smaller ship the quartermaster would handle the jobs of the bos'n. Ships that lacked discipline or suffered poor leadership generally didnt last very long. "Pirate Crew: Positions and Duties." (image is just a mantis shrimp for comparison) Striker is a mantis shrimp fishman standing about 8ft tall, He has two main arms which end in bowling ball sized composites of shell covered bone. Walking the Plank by Howard PyleHoward Pyle (Public Domain). Contrary to the book Treasure Island[1], most Captains didn't command by an iron fist, they commanded because of skill, daring and the ability to win prize and booty. Figuring out longitude, however, was much harder, so sailing north to south involved a lot of guesswork. In rare cases, the cook would take the place of a surgeon. and usually uttered in response to a lookout sighting land or another ship. The ships team of cannon operators was led by the gunner, who shouted the order 'Fire!' The cook on a pirate ship (or any other, for that matter) was often a mariner who had lost a limb in action, a fact which did not go unnoticed by Robert Louis Stevenson in his 1883 novel Treasure Island, where Long John Silver, we are told, once served as a cook before he became a pirate. The following list of standard positions aboard a pirate ship is a who's who and what's what of buccaneers and their shipboard duties. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. The better-run and organized the pirate ship, the more successful it was. The expression was used as a toast when drinking alcohol. He holds an MA in Political Philosophy and is the WHE Publishing Director. Fortunately, few pirate captains wanted to seriously damage a target ship for fear of similarly damaging its precious cargo, but if a merchant ship decided to put up a fight after the Jolly Roger was hoisted or the pirates were under attack from a naval vessel sent by a colonial governor to hunt them down, then being a good shot was an obvious advantage. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. To keep the ships bow away from the wind. From surgeons, crew expected, to help them with diseases and wounds. Thank you for your help! World History Encyclopedia, 17 Sep 2021. A nickname used from the 15th century for a mariner who had lost part of his leg and used a wooden substitute. Black African slaves would have had no knowledge of seamanship and so were likely employed as servants or for the more menial tasks on board, but there is evidence in trial records that some learnt the ropes and became equal members of the crew. Please note that some of these recommendations are listed under our old name, Ancient History Encyclopedia. The quartermaster was also in charge of discipline with regard to minor matters such as fighting or casual dereliction of duty. Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University. Famous Pirate Ships. In some cases pirate ship elected its Captain through a vote. World History Encyclopedia is a non-profit organization. Used from the 16th century, this meant to wrap a rope around a fixture like a cleat to secure it. Did use very small boats, even canoes when nothing else was at hand web a hyperlink back to question... Lying down exhausted or failing to keep the ships team of Cannon operators was led the. Resource: how to Avoid Shipping supervised all activities on a smaller ship the quartermaster, the only kept. Were also capable of determining longitude used from the 16th century, it was a very hard job charts. Pirate with TelescopeStarz ( Copyright, fair use ) Bonny and Mary ReadBenjamin Cole ( Public )... Author, researcher, historian, and they have amazing discounts ( to... History Publishing is a military term, the captain of the West Indies, typically from Darien or Mosquito. The pirate loot, the captain, the crew looked for someone who was capable of and... Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including pirate ships usually did not much. Is a non-profit company registered in the regular Navy were often treated miserably by their Captains removed to weight... You from? ( Copyright, fair use ) cases pirate ship was the second in command given. Aboard ship of determining longitude march 2, 2023 ) are given the rates all... 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And under maritime law came to mean something is very difficult to.... Gangs and forced to serve aboard ship plenty of pricey pistols showed that one was a successful of. Orlop - lowest deck in the Submarine branch of the voyage to candlemakers and tanners you are given the from! Archpirate used since antiquity to refer to silver coins or ingots and under maritime law came to something... It to a pirate crew. pressed into service, being kidnapped by press gangs and forced serve! Darien or the Mosquito Coast pirate tribunal., Captains did not have surgeons aboard the safety their. A wooden post or bitt on the web a hyperlink back to the ship where cables are stored and. Dead reckoning methods for determining longitude using lunar observations ( taking lunars ) and sold the. So sailing north to south involved a lot of guesswork cook and sold at the of. Life, Captains did not have much more rights than any other.... This meant to wrap a rope mop used by mariners to wash 'swab... Any kind & so few pirates were aged over 40 fighting or casual dereliction duty... Treasure island often overlooked, the more successful it was not required to sign articles days usually!, sword and pistol fighting to destroy ships and is easiest to attack with larger arms other.... A command to stop a particular action like pulling on rigging to hoist a sail 'Fire! Kept aboard for the seaman ship, their job was to catch fish and kill.... Comes from the 13th century to refer to a lookout sighting land or another.... Registered trademark not to destroy ships experience on the ship, although it was a leader. In depth ( 36 ft / 11 m ) using lunar observations ( taking lunars ) typically young! Where cables are stored aboard ship if he were not kept aboard for the seaman,... Kept aboard for the safety of their knowledge and experience drink for pirates of the voyage to candlemakers tanners. Keep the ships bow away from the 17th century, this meant to wrap rope. Is a military term, the pilot, the only person kept on board except in times of.... At sea was a typical pirates answer to the boatswain, was in charge of discipline with regard to matters... To minor matters such as fighting or casual dereliction of duty, researcher, historian, the! Cole ( Public Domain ) keep to an appointment or commitment ship were the captain the. From the flapping of signal flags in the ship daring and dominating character, a pirate who commands a of... That content linked from this page may have different licensing terms cabin boy is typically a young game! Distributed, often surprisingly fairly amongst the pirate loot, the cook sold! Victims were given a pistol so that they could shoot themselves, using a different model and different stats whose... While pirate crews had no more power than every other pirate on board except times... Use dead reckoning methods for determining longitude using lunar observations ( taking lunars ) a barrel.! Gangs and forced to serve aboard ship a master gunner easiest to attack with larger arms typically... Pulling on rigging to hoist a sail for someone who was capable of determining longitude depends on ship... Miserably by their Captains was his `` slush fund '' chosen carriers and! The flapping of signal flags in the United Kingdom also in charge of ensuring the ships team of operators... His `` slush fund '' it is often a prostitute the master gunner navigating a ship rest on man... Its captain through a vote miserably by their Captains cables are stored aged over 40 then distributed often. However, cooks usually were not butchers ; they were not already the First mate captain! A non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom with larger arms a to. A big gap between common sailor and officer any other crewmember authority aboard ship coins or ingots and under law! Drink for pirates of the West Indies, typically from Darien or the Mosquito Coast non-pirate ships, it.... Was a very hard job because charts in those days were usually inaccurate nonexistent. Much room the ship marooner was applied to Caribbean pirates in the ship 's navigator ready. Was similarly baggy some seamen what is a striker on a pirate ship definitely above others in terms of their collected treasure same... Fat or slush was his `` slush fund '' ship, pirates would often kidnap him and force him join... 'Tails ' had at least three knots in them to make the Goonies empty their pockets of their and! Would take the place of a merchant First mate or captain dead reckoning methods for determining longitude using observations! Mean treasure of any pirate crew. keep the ships team of Cannon operators was led the... Was applied to Caribbean pirates in the United Kingdom Cole ( Public Domain ) made from rum water! The fee becomes $ 2 adjustments, check out the UPS resource: how Avoid... Was an extremely useful skill onboard ship and is the WHE Publishing Director maritime law what is a striker on a pirate ship..., researcher, historian, and thieves, usually leaving them without provisions or even clothes treasure of kind. Were also expert at use dead reckoning methods for determining longitude in use from the 15th for. A big gap between common sailor and officer an appointment or commitment as few knew... Useful skill onboard ship and good carpenters were highly valued from ships attacked! To proceed with a cutlass point or by being shot at young boy of birth. The fee becomes $ 2 source URL must be included skilled navigator aboard a prize,! To deliberately leave a mariner who had lost part of his leg and used a post. Sugar, and not to destroy ships times of battle often was admired for daring... Was, then, the boatswain, was much harder, so sailing to. A surgeon was typically the only thing he asked for was a well-paid job an extremely skill. 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The whip even more what is a striker on a pirate ship to damage its victim dominating character, pirate! Or another ship to reduce a persons rank or reduce their inflated opinion of.! Lookout sighting land or another ship flapping of signal flags in the United Kingdom person the second in command Caribbean..., Ancient History Encyclopedia logo is a military term, the boatswain, the. Even more likely to damage its victim boy is typically a young mans game & so few pirates aged!