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Pirate Slang Trivia Quiz

How well do you know pirate language? What's the difference between a caulker and a cackle fruit? Let's find out. If you have read "Pirates" by John Matthews or "Pirateology" by William Lubber, then you will probably ace this quiz! Good Luck1

A multiple-choice quiz by mrbell. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
mrbell

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
275,400

Updated
Dec 11 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
2638

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What is a cat-o'-nine-tails? Hint

a whip used for flogging

a cat who is possessed

a pretty bar maid

a drink enjoyed by pirates

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Question 2 of 10

2. What does it mean in pirate jargon to "feed the fish"? Hint

to be thrown into the sea

throw food into the sea

retire from piracy

to be flogged

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Question 3 of 10

3. What is the Dead Man's Chest? Hint

an empty rum bottle

where a pirate keeps his booty

a coffin

cold storage for food on a journey

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Question 4 of 10

4. What is another name for the hangman? Hint

Jack Ketch

Henry Avery

Black Bart

John Quelch

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Question 5 of 10

5. What would pirates call empty bottles? Hint

dead men

deadlights

dead ladies

goners

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Question 6 of 10

6. What is cackle fruit? Hint

fruit that makes you laugh

coconuts

green apples

chicken eggs

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Question 7 of 10

7. Who was a 'powder monkey"? Hint

boys who carried gunpowder to the guns

boys who cooked the meals on ship

boys who swabbed the decks

boys who served as lookouts

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Question 8 of 10

8. What is a barker? Hint

a sword

a pistol

a hatchet

an ax

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Question 9 of 10

9. What is a caulker? Hint

a special cannon used by pirates only when battling Spain

a drink to celebrate a victory at sea.

an alcoholic drink taken after a drinking bout

a drink that was taken when the captain of a ship died

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Question 10 of 10

10. What are you doing if you're 'dancing the hempen jig'? Hint

swimming

being hanged

getting drunk

climbing the ship's mast

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What is a cat-o'-nine-tails?

Answer: a whip used for flogging

The expression "let the cat out of the bag" may be derived from this.

2. What does it mean in pirate jargon to "feed the fish"?

Answer: to be thrown into the sea

Dead or alive, if you're thrown into the sea, you're "feeding the fish".

3. What is the Dead Man's Chest?

Answer: a coffin

If a pirate was not deemed worthy of a proper burial in a coffin, his body would be sent to rot in the gibbet(cage) or hung at the gallows.

4. What is another name for the hangman?

Answer: Jack Ketch

If told you were going to "dance with Jack Ketch" you were to be hanged.

5. What would pirates call empty bottles?

Answer: dead men

Deadlights were what they called eyes.

6. What is cackle fruit?

Answer: chicken eggs

If a pirate did not eat enough fresh fruit, he could contract scurvy (a deficiency of vitamins and minerals). They could prevent scurvy by placing limes in their drinks.

7. Who was a 'powder monkey"?

Answer: boys who carried gunpowder to the guns

This job was given to new crew members. sometimes they were promoted to gunner or gunner's mate (if they survived).

8. What is a barker?

Answer: a pistol

Pirates carried a brace of pistols (a belt of two pistols that are primed and loaded) to save time and the effort of loading a pistol during a battle.

9. What is a caulker?

Answer: an alcoholic drink taken after a drinking bout

Pirates consumed a lot of alcohol on their voyages. It is said that some ships carried three times as many barrels of beer as they did of water. The infamous pirate 'grog' was basically rum with lemon juice, sugar and other spices added.

10. What are you doing if you're 'dancing the hempen jig'?

Answer: being hanged

Most ropes used for hanging were made from hemp.

Source: Author mrbell

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