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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
2590

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Grogg07181951 (6/10), slay01 (10/10), constancejane (8/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

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

a drink enjoyed by pirates

a pretty bar maid

a whip used for flogging

a cat who is possessed

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Question 2 of 10

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

to be flogged

retire from piracy

to be thrown into the sea

throw food into the sea

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Question 3 of 10

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

a coffin

cold storage for food on a journey

where a pirate keeps his booty

an empty rum bottle

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Question 4 of 10

4. What is another name for the hangman? Hint

Black Bart

John Quelch

Henry Avery

Jack Ketch

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Question 5 of 10

5. What would pirates call empty bottles? Hint

dead ladies

dead men

deadlights

goners

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Question 6 of 10

6. What is cackle fruit? Hint

fruit that makes you laugh

chicken eggs

green apples

coconuts

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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 pistol

a hatchet

a sword

an ax

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Question 9 of 10

9. What is a caulker? Hint

an alcoholic drink taken after a drinking bout

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

a drink to celebrate a victory at sea.

a special cannon used by pirates only when battling Spain

NEXT>

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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Most Recent Scores

Apr 07 2024 : Grogg07181951: 6/10
Apr 04 2024 : slay01: 10/10
Mar 30 2024 : constancejane: 8/10
Mar 18 2024 : Guest 185: 5/10
Feb 29 2024 : HumblePie7: 5/10
Feb 26 2024 : Guest 99: 6/10

Score Distribution

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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