by mark and helen warner - amazon web services · by mark and helen warner. thank you for...
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www.teachingpacks.co.uk
By Mark and Helen Warner
Thank you for purchasing this e-book from Teaching Packs. We hope that it, along with the accompanying resources, are useful to you and the children that you teach.
Please be aware of the following information before using this book.
Please DO:* Print and copy this book (on paper or electronically), so that you can use it with the children that you teach.* Tell others if you have found it useful.* Email [email protected] if you have any suggestions, or find any mistakes, so that we can continue to improve the book in the future.
Please DO NOT:* Copy or share this book (in part or whole) with others who have not purchased it. By buying a copy for themselves, they will help us to continue making more fantastic resources for everyone in the future.
Thank you,
Mark and Helen Warner © Teaching Packs - Pirates - Page 2
Who were the Pirates?Discover who different groups of pirates were and where they sailed!
4 What was life like onboard?Find out about the chores that pirates had to do, food they ate, games they played and rules for onboard ship.
20
Who were the most famous pirates?Learn about some famous pirates and the terrible things that they did!
7 What was the best treasure?Discover a pirate’s favourite types of treasure, how they captured it and what happened to those who were caught!
23
What was a pirate ship like?Explore the range of ships that pirates sailed and find out the different parts of them.
10 What happened to the pirates?Learn what happened to the pirates and find out if there are still pirates today.
26
What jobs did pirates do?Learn about the different jobs onboard a ship and find out what pirates wore too!
15 GlossaryInvestigate what lots of different piratey words mean!
28
© Teaching Packs - Pirates - Page 3
All of the underlined words in this book are in the glossary, so you can check their meaning if
you need to. Find the glossary at page 28.
Pirates were people who stole from other ships
and ports. They have been around for
thousands of years. Some groups of pirates
have been called by different names (e.g.
Vikings, Buccaneers, Privateers, Corsairs).
The most famous pirates were those who
sailed 500 years ago and stole gold from
Spanish ships. The Spanish had actually
stolen the gold themselves from South
America, so were an excellent target for
pirates sailing the Caribbean Sea.
© Teaching Packs - Pirates - Page 4
In this section, you will learn about...
1. Different groups of pirates and the places they sailed around.
2. A dangerous route called ‘The Pirate Round’.
3. Why people decided to become pirates.
© Teaching Packs - Pirates - Page 5 Map © ThinkStock
Buccaneers raided and stole
from treasure ships and places
around the Caribbean in the
17th century.
Privateers were shipowners who were given permission to
attack ships from other countries during wars. They were ‘legal pirates’ and were not outlaws.
Vikingsexplored, raided and traded around
Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the 8th to the 11th centuries.
Corsairswere pirates who sailed around the
Mediterranean Sea between the 15th and 18th centuries. They
kidnapped people from other ships and sold them as slaves or held
them until a ransom fee was paid.
North Sea
CaribbeanSea
MediterraneanSea
ArabianSea
SouthChinaSea
Indian Ocean
Pacific Ocean
AtlanticOcean
Arctic Ocean
Southern Ocean
Pirates throughout history have also sailed the seas around China, Southeast Asia and the
Indian Ocean.
In the 1600’s pirates sailed the ‘Pirate Round’. This was a long and
dangerous route from North America to the Indian Ocean and back.
Can you trace the route that this might have followed?North America
Why be a pirate?
Being a sailor was a hard life and was poorly paid. Many men became pirates as it was
simply better paid! Some men became pirates because they escaped jail or slavery and
had no other choice.
If you wanted to be a famous and successful pirate, you
needed a strong, fearless crew to fight, steal, work hard and
maintain your ship. There were lots of different jobs that had to
be done by the crew and life onboard wasn’t easy.
However, treasure was the reward for a group of victorious pirates,
including gold, silver, silk cloth and jewels!
© Teaching Packs - Pirates - Page 6
Did you know...Pirates sold their treasure to people at docks. Some
could spend 3,000 pieces of silver (£45,000) in one night. Lots of their money was spent in public houses!
Some pirates became famous for the dreadful things that they did
while looting and plundering. Here are some of the most wanted...
© Teaching Packs - Pirates - Page 7
In this section, you will learn about...
1. The lives of some extremely famous pirates!
2. The terrible deeds that they did during their time sailing the seas.
3. How their days as pirates came to an end.
• Blackbeard was a huge man with a shaggy beard, a twisted nose and sticky out ears.• He lived around the seventeenth century.• He gained a reputation for being a terrifying pirate and is still talked about today.• His gang of 400 pirates captured over 40 ships and tons of treasure over just eighteen months.• When going into battle, he would tie cord into his hair and beard, then set it alight so his head looked larger. It also sent out an eerie glow and thick black smoke to scare the enemy.• He wore a bandoleer with three pistols attached and even more pistols hung from his belt.• He kept his crew on their toes by constantly testing their bravery.• He was eventually hunted down and killed by Lieutenant Maynard in a battle at Ocracoke Creek located near Virginia. Despite being shot, Blackbeard continued to fight until he was stabbed many times by Maynard’s men.
Edward Teach (Blackbeard)
© Teaching Packs - Pirates - Page 8
• Black Bart was a Welshman and an honest sailor for 30 years in the seventeenth century.• He worked as second mate on a slave ship when he was captured by pirates.• The pirate captain Howel Davis liked Roberts, but couldn’t persuade him to join the pirate crew. Howel was killed in a raid, so the crew begged Roberts to became Captain and he did!• Roberts became known as Black Bart and wore a crimson waistcoat and breeches, a red feather in his hat, a diamond cross on a gold chain and a belt with two pairs of pistols on!• In his first raid, his crew attacked the wealthiest ship in a harbour on the coast of Brazil and got a haul of 90,000 gold moidores and lots of priceless jewellery!• Eventually Black Bart was hunted down by Captain Chaloner Ogle and his ship, The Swallow. Bart’s crew were too drunk to fight, so he attempted to flee but The Swallow caught up. Bart was shot during the battle that followed.
Bartholomew Roberts (Black Bart)
• Ned Low was a Londoner who lived in the eighteenth century.• He was petty criminal until he emigrated to Boston in America and worked as a ship rigger.• However, he had a disagreement with the captain and tried to shoot him, killing another crewman instead. He escaped with some friends on a small boat and decided to try piracy.• He soon captured a large schooner and called her The Fancy.•He often killed or tortured everyone aboard the ships that he captured and chased those who did manage to escape.• He once chopped off a man’s ears, roasted them and made the poor chap eat them!• Eventually, even his own crew turned against him because of his cruelty and threw him overboard. He was captured and hung by the French.
Ned Low(Admiral Low)
© Teaching Packs - Pirates - Page 9
• Born in 1635 in a Welsh military family, he wanted to join the army so joined a group sent to capture Hispaniola.• Morgan became so respected that he was chosen to become Admiral of the ‘Brethren of the Coas’, who were a wily band of buccaneers who were really cut-throat legal pirates.• Morgan’s greatest success with his crew was to capture a South American port called Porto Bello. Then, he blackmailed the President of Panama into giving him £250,000 in gold coins in exchange for not burning Porto Bello to the ground.• However, his attacks continued even after a peace treaty had been signed with Spain.• Despite this, Henry was knighted and sent back to Jamaica as Lieutenant Governor to try and stop buccaneering and piracy, hanging hundreds of pirates.
Henry Morgan
• Major Stede Bonnet was a respected, educated and cultured man. He became a pirate to escape his wife nagging him!• He secretly fitted out a fast sloop and called it The Revenge. It had ten guns and a library full of his favourite books.• Bonnet never took part in the sailing of the ship, but enjoyed strolling around deck in his silk morning robe reading a book.• He was captured by the British colonies. However, he was so charming, he managed to talk his way out of being hung.• Bonnet also got a pardon and a privateer’s commission to act against Spain. However, once he was released, he forgot about privateering and went find Blackbeard who had cheated him in the past. He changed his name to Captain Roberts and his ship’s name to The Royal James.• Eventually he was captured and hung.
‘Gentleman’Stede Bonnet
Most pirates were men, but there were some female buccaneers. Many crept on board, pretending to be boys. Some were very good pirates who were later found out to be women. Famous female pirates included Anne Bonny and Mary Read who fought together against the navy..
Successful pirates needed a fast ship that would allow them to
surprise other ships. Smaller ships could turn more easily than
larger vessels, helping them to make a quick getaway too!
However, ships had to be large enough to carry
the pirates, as well as the supplies that they
needed for their journey.
Many older ships needed to be repaired
regularly and it was hard work to keep
them going. Many were shipwrecked,
which meant that the pirates had
to try and capture another.
© Teaching Packs - Pirates - Page 10
In this section, you will learn about...
1. The different parts of a pirate ship.
2. Different types of ships that pirates used to sail on their voyages.
3. How pirates used to communicate with others on the sea.
Image © ThinkStock
© Teaching Packs - Pirates - Page 11
Jolly Roger
Quarterdeck
Gunport
Cannon
Deck
Rudder
Rigging
Crow’s Nest
Main Mast
Foremost Mast
Bowsprit
Head
Hull
Anchor
Stores
Cannon Stores
Pirates ships were all slightly different, but most of them had the features shown here.
Can you work out what each part is for?
Cloud Images © ThinkStock
© Teaching Packs - Pirates - Page 12
SchoonerLots of pirates (especially American privateers) sailed schooners. They had 2 masts, 8 cannons and 4 swivel guns. They were small and fast but could only carry 75 pirates. However, because they were small, they could still sail in very shallow water. This meant that they could hide in shallow coves, waiting to ambush passing ships.
BrigantineThese were great for sea battles against large ships or the heavy artillery of the Royal Navy. They had at least 10 cannons and could carry 100 pirates. They also had twice the storage space of a sloop, so the pirates who sailed in them could stay at sea for longer voyages.
Cloud Images © ThinkStock
© Teaching Packs - Pirates - Page 13
SloopThese were even faster then a schooner and were preferred by pirates as they were easy to sail, even in narrow channels. This was an advantage because it helped pirates trying to hide and ambush unsuspecting ships sailing by. Sloops only had one mast but could reach a speed of 11 knots.
Square RiggerSquare Riggers had square sails that were at right angles to the mast. They could carry over 2,000 square metres of sail which allowed them to reach high speeds. Square Riggers were larger, but not as easy to turn as sloops and schooners. However, their size meant they could carry more supplies so they were ideally suited for long voyages. They could carry 200 pirates, had 20 cannons and were often chosen by captain pirates as the flagships for their fleet.
Cloud Images © ThinkStock
Communication between ships when they were sailing was often difficult. The system of flags was developed, so ships could communicate clearly with each other from a distance. Pirates used this system to their own advantage, designing flags to terrify other ships. Every pirate captain had his own flag design using different symbols. Here are some flags that pirate ships might have flown:
The Jolly RogerDeath was often called ‘Old Roger’, which is why this flag was called the Jolly Roger. It warned other ships to surrender without fighting, or they would face their death.
Horned SkeletonThis flag was flown to warn others that they would die whilst being tortured.
Bleeding heartA bleeding heart on a pirate flag meant you were going to die slowly and painfully.
Hourglass flagThis showed other ships that time was running out for them to make a decision - will they try and escape or will they surrender?
Red AlertIf ships failed to stop then pirates would often raise a red flag to show that they were going to attack. This flag meant they would show no mercy.
False colours flagSneaky pirates would sometimes fly flags belonging to different countries to trick other ships into thinking they were friendly... even though they weren’t!
© Teaching Packs - Pirates - Page 14
There were lots of different jobs to do on
board a pirate ship. Some were more skilled
than others and these were often better paid.
© Teaching Packs - Pirates - Page 15
The Captain of a pirate ship was the most
important job of all. They would set the rules for
their crew to follow and keep the best treasure for
themselves. However, if the crew were unhappy
because of the lack of loot, they would sometimes
throw a mutiny and throw the captain overboard,
replacing him with someone else!
In this section, you will learn about...
1. The different types of jobs that pirates had to do.
2. Why these jobs were all very important.
3. The clothes that pirates might wear onboard the ship.
© Teaching Packs - Pirates - Page 16
A surgeon inspected new recruits, before
they joined the ship, to see if they were fit
for duty. They also treated any sick and
wounded pirates, sometimes removing
limbs. Even though they were well paid,
surgeons were very useful so pirates would
often kidnap them if they got the chance!
A Quartermaster was second in command of
the pirate ship. The quartermaster usually
steered the ship, was in charge of supplies
and dishing out any punishments for
disobedience onboard. He usually led any
attacks on other ships and was the first to
leap aboard the hunted ship.
Did you know...Blackbeard once shot his
Quartermaster in the knee to show everyone who was the boss!
© Teaching Packs - Pirates - Page 17
Carpenters would patch
up the ship’s hull and
plug any leaks or
gaps, replacing rotting
timbers with new planks.
After battle, they would
patch up any cannon ball
holes, mending broken
spars and masts. They even
made wooden legs to replace
lost limbs after injuries during
battle!
Carpentry was a very important
job and carpenters were highly
valued onboard a pirate ship.
A Cooper makes barrels. This
was also a very important job
on a pirate ship. All the supplies
(such as bully beef,
hard tack, water, beer,
liquor and even
gunpowder) were stored in
barrels to keep them safe.
The Cooper would make and
repair barrels and also be an
expert on how to preserve
things in them. Once barrels
were empty, the Cooper would
take them apart and put the
parts into storage, until they
were needed again.
Did you know...If you were onboard a pirate ship, which job would you like to do?
Can you explain why?
© Teaching Packs - Pirates - Page 18
With lots of busy pirates on
the ship, doing very physical jobs, there
were many hungry mouths to feed.
Cooking for them all usually involved
boiling large amounts of meat in a large pot
called a Steep Tub. The cook was one of
the lowest paid jobs on the ship, so the
quality of the food wasn’t great!
The Boatswain (or Bosun) was responsible for the
ships’ rigging and making sure that the vessel
remained ship-shape by checking it every morning. The
Boatswain also made sure
the ship was stocked
with supplies such as
tar and spare sails.
Did you know...Some craftsmen weren’t bothered about being captured by pirates
as the pay was often better!
© Teaching Packs - Pirates - Page 19
What did anordinary pirate wear?
NeckerchiefThey wore a bright coloured neckerchief around their neck or on their head.
Large Gold EarringsPirates wore large gold earrings so that if they drowned and got washed ashore somewhere, they had enough money for a decent burial.
Woollen ShirtThey wore a thick loose woollen shirt tied
at the waist with a belt.
TarThey often plastered their clothes with black tar to make them more waterproof.
TrousersPirates wore baggy canvas trousers called ‘sloopers’ cut off halfway down the calf. These were
often made out of worn out sails.
Bare FeetPirates did not wear shoes. They did this so their feet
had a better grip on the wooden decks of the ship.
What other jobs did pirates do?
Powder MonkeyA powder monkey carried gunpowder from the stores to the cannons when in battle. This was a very dangerous job as the gunpowder could catch alight and explode. You were also more likely to be shot or hit by flying debris. People doing this job didn’t live very long!
SlavePirates soon learnt that slaves could be made to do the harder jobs on the ship. Pirate ships often hunted and raided slave ships operating between Africa and the British Colonies. If captured slaves were strong and brave, they were usually promoted to become proper pirates and even got a share of the loot!
Master GunnerThe Master Gunner was in charge of the ship’s guns and ammunition. They had to stop the gunpowder getting damp by sifting it and were responsible for the aim of the cannons during battle.
CareeningThe hull of the ship often got covered in barnacles, seaweed and teredo worm which chomped their way through the wood. So, the whole crew was expected to scrub, scrape and replace rotten timber and fill leaky gaps between the planks with oakum. The smoother the hull, the faster the ship would go.
Pirates spent more time having fun than other sailors. They loved
eating, drinking and singing, but they did have some chores.
The ship had to be kept in excellent condition, so it was
able to sail and manoeuvre well in battle (and also to
avoid capture by the Royal Navy). Pirates had to
scrub the decks and climb up rigging and sails,
so they could be mended and moved. Supplies
(such as fresh water and meat) had to be
collected too, so pirates had to row out to islands
to collect them. One pirate also had to climb to
the top of the ship to look out for passing vessels.
© Teaching Packs - Pirates - Page 20
In this section, you will learn about...
1. The chores that pirates had to do while at sea.
2. Food that they had to eat.
3.The rules and punishments for pirates onboard.
4. Games that pirates played.
What did pirateseat and drink?
There wasn’t much variety in a pirate’s diet. The main food was biscuits, washed down with beer or wine. However, this was better than starving, which might happen if they were shipwrecked or if their ship couldn’t move because there wasn’t any wind.
© Teaching Packs - Pirates - Page 21
Turtle meatBut only if you can find any turtles.
FishBe careful that it doesn’t bite!
Fresh meatIf the expedition crew bring any animals or
birds from the island in the distance.
EggsThe hens onboard ship have been laying eggs for us - they’re full of protein!
Hard TackLong-lasting biscuits that are tough to eat.
Better eat them in the dark, so youdon’t have to look at the weevils in them!
LimesA great source of Vitamin C to stop us
from getting scurvy.
Beer and WineWater doesn’t stay fresh onboard ship,
so wash down our foul food with plenty of beer and wine!
Images © ThinkStock
Where did pirates sleep?If the weather was nice, most pirates slept on the deck. This was better than sleeping on the lower deck, which was dark, hot, cramped, noisy and smelly. Bilge water slopped below and there were rats everywhere!
© Teaching Packs - Pirates - Page 22
Fun and gamesGambling - Pirates loved to gamble with cards, dice or even about who or what they would capture next. However, some took it too far and even lost the clothes they wore. Some pirate captains would ban gambling as it caused too many fights.
Mock trials - Pirates would dress up and act out a mock trial. The Captain would be the judge and the rest of the crew would play the lawyers, jury, jailer and the hangman. This was their way of making light of their fate if they were caught.
Pirate Music - Pirates loved music. After the carpenter and surgeon, anyone that could play a fiddle or squeeze box (an instrument like an accordion) was valued. Often, pirate ships had a band who would play whilst the pirates were working or even when going into battle.
• No Girls - Girls were not allowed onboard the ship. • No Stealing - Those who stole were usually marooned on an island.• No Violence - Anyone who hit or injured another man on purpose would be lashed. • No Dirt - If a man was found with a dirty weapon that was not ready for use he would give up his share of any stolen goods. • No Danger - If a man did something dangerous (such as smoking in the hold, carrying a candle without a cover or letting off his musket for a laugh), he would also forfeit his share of any treasure.• No Secrets - Those keeping secrets were sent away on a raft with few supplies.
Other Punishments for Pirates• Cockroaches - Sailors would be forced to swallow cockroaches.• Teeth pulling - Pirates’ teeth would be bashed or pulled out.• Flogging - Pirates would be flogged by a frayed tarred rope. Sometimes the person doing the flogging would tie musket balls onto the end of the whip or add fish hooks. • Man Overboard - If a man was found guilty of breaking the rules he would either be thrown over the side of the ship and left, or towed behind the ship on a length of rope until he was dead.• Marooning - Naughty pirates would be stripped naked and left on a island or on a tiny raft with no supplies. This punishment was often used if a pirate started a mutiny.
(and what happenedif you broke them)
Pirates loved to find gold and silver! This could be in
coins, bars or made into ornaments. They also liked
finding valuable materials like silk, hardwood and ivory.
Treasure was often hidden, so pirates had to break down walls and
doors to find it on other ships. They would threaten the sailors to
tell them where it was.
The loot was shared out between the
ordinary pirates. Officers got more and
the cook and carpenter got a bit less
(because they didn’t fight). Pirates who
thought they weren’t getting a fair
share might attack the captain! © Teaching Packs - Pirates - Page 23
In this section, you will learn about...
1. The types of treasure that pirates liked.
2. How pirates attacked other ships.
3. What would happen to you if you were captured by pirates.
© Teaching Packs - Pirates - Page 24
How did pirates attack?
When a pirate (looking out in the crow’s nest) spotted a ship, the Jolly Roger was raised.
The pirates chased the other ship until they caught up with it, firing their
cannons and guns to cause damage and injure or kill the sailors on board it.
When they caught up with it, the pirates would board
the ship and begin searching for treasure. Any sailors who didn’t
surrender would be faced with pistols, muskets, axes, daggers, cutlasses
and other weapons that the pirates might be using to attack.
Some crew members might barricade themselves
into a strong part of the ship and try to fight back.
Others might surrender and join the pirate crew.
Images © ThinkStock
© Teaching Packs - Pirates - Page 25
Ups and DownsPirates would tie a rope around the captured person
and hoist them up into the sails over and over again.
SweatingPirates would strip their victim and force him to run around by sticking him in the bottom with knives,
forks and harpoons whilst the ship’s fiddler played.
WooldingThis method of torture would be used to find if the person had anything valuable hidden. The victim’s arms and legs would be tied
with rope and they would be stretched and beaten. Then he would have burning
matches inserted between his fingers and a thin cord tied round his head, which would
be twisted until his eyes popped out!
What punishments were given to people who were captured by pirates?
Pirates may have valuable treasure,
but not many lived to enjoy it. Most
pirates died in brutal battles.
Laws against piracy were very
strict. Pirates who were caught
might have been tortured and
turned into slaves. Some
were hung at Execution Dock
by the River Thames, with large crowds
of people watching. Their bodies were
placed in iron cages to stop people
stealing and burying the bones. © Teaching Packs - Pirates - Page 26
In this section, you will learn about...
1. What happened to pirates who were caught.
2. Why a long period of piracy came to an end.
3. Piracy today and how it is deterred.
Photo: © ThinkStock
By the middle of the 1800s, Britain and other European countries ruled most of the world.
Slavery was gradually stamped out and ships patrolled the oceans, so this period of piracy
came to an end.
Piracy today
Piracy hasn’t completely disappeared.
In recent times, political groups have hijacked ships, making
demands and threatening to kill those onboard if their
demands are not met. Other pirates have attacked and robbed
luxury yachts, container ships and supertankers.
However, special teams and coastguards patrol the seas and
investigate any reports of pirate attacks. Ships are
encouraged to use radio and other technology to keep in
contact and to stay alert.
© Teaching Packs - Pirates - Page 27 Images © ThinkStock
AmbushA surprise attack.
AmmunitionAll of the materials and weapons used in fights and battles.
AnchorA heavy weight that was used to stop the ship from moving.
ArtilleryLarge guns used in battles, e.g. cannons.
BandoleerA belt used to hold ammunition.
BarnacleA small sea creature that clings to rocks and the bottom of ships.
BarrelA container, made of wood, used to hold liquids and other materials.
BarricadeBlocking others from getting / going somewhere.
BecalmedWhen a ship with sails cannot move because there isn’t any wind.
Bilge waterFoul water that collects in the bottom of old ships.
BlackmailThreatening someone with something, unless demands are met.
Boatswain (or Bosun)Someone who checked that the ship was in working order and fully stocked.
BootyPirate treasure.
BowspritA long pole that points out of the front of the ship.
BreechesClothing that covers the body from the waist down.
BuccaneerRaided and stole from treasure ships and places around the Caribbean.
CannonA large gun that is mounted on wheels.
Cannon storesPlaces where ammunition was kept.
CaptainThe most important person on a ship.
CareeningTipping the ship on its side and repairing the hull.
CargoGoods that were carried on a ship.
CarpenterPeople who worked to fix ships and the things on them.
Cat-o'-nine tailsA whip used to punish sailors.
CoastguardPeople who help to keep the seas safe and secure.
ColoniesPlaces that are ruled by another country.
CommissionPermission that was given to a privateer to attack enemy ships.
CommunicationWays of talking and sharing information with others.
CompassAn instrument used to find north that was used in navigation.
CooperSomeone who made and repaired barrels.
CorsairPirates who sailed on the Mediterranean Sea between the 15th and 18th Centuries.
Crow's nestA small platform high up on the mast that lets sailors / pirates look out to sea.
CutlassA short sword used by buccaneers. Popular because it didn’t get caught in rigging.
DaggerA weapon with a sharp point used in fighting.
DeckThe floor of a ship.
DisobedienceRefusing to obey others or rules.
© Teaching Packs - Pirates - Page 28
ExecutionA punishment of putting criminals to their death.
ExpeditionA journey taken for a reason, e.g. to find fresh water / food.
FlagshipThe lead ship in a group of vessels.
FloggingBeating someone’s back with a whip or a rod.
Foremost MastThe first mast on a ship.
FrayedRope that is worn at the edges.
GalleonA large ship with square sails used by the Spanish in the 16th and 17th centuries.
GalleyA ship powered by oars and sails.OR a ship’s kitchen.
GallowsA structure that was used to hang criminals.
GibbetA frame, made of iron, that displayed criminals who had been hanged.
GunportAn opening at the side of the ship that lets guns and cannons point out.
GunpowderAn explosive powder used in different weapons.
Hard tackLong-lasting biscuits eaten on ships.
HarpoonA long object (like a spear) used in fishing.
HeadThe part at the front of the ship.
HijackTo take over something by force.
HoldA place for carrying cargo on a ship.
HoistSomething that lifts and lowers objects.
HullThe main frame of a ship.
Jolly RogerA flag that was put up when pirates attacked another ship.
KidnapTaking a person without permission.
LashTorturing people with a whip.
LatitudeA ship’s position north or south of the Equator.
LongitudeA ship’s position East or West around the world.
LootPirate treasure.
LootingTaking goods by force.
Main mastThe tallest mast on a ship, usually in the middle of it.
ManoeuvreTo change the position of a ship.
MaroonTo leave someone on a desert island.
MastA tall spar (pole) that supports the sails on a ship.
Master GunnerSomeone who was in charge of the ship’s ammunition.
MerchantA person who buys and sells goods.
MoidoresA gold coin from Portugal.
MusketA long hand gun.
Musket BallsAmmunition used in a musket.
MutinyRefusing to obey the captain’s orders.
NavigationFinding your way around at sea.
OakumRope fibres used to make ships waterproof.
OverboardGoing from the ship into the water.
PardonForgiving someone’s crime and cancelling their punishment.
Pieces of EightA type of Spanish coin.
© Teaching Packs - Pirates - Page 29
Pirate RoundA dangerous route from North America to the Indian Ocean and back.
PistolA light, short-barrelled gun.
PlunderingTaking goods by force.
PortA place on a coast where ships can dock and move people and cargo from / to land.
Powder MonkeySomeone who carried gunpowder from the stores to the cannons during a battle.
PrivateerThe owner of a ship who was given permission to attack other countries’ ships.
QuarterdeckThe raised deck behind the main mast on a ship.
QuartermasterThe second in command on a ship.
RaidA surprise attack to steal something.
RansomDemanding money to release a person or thing.
RatlinesCrossed ropes that make a rope ladder to let sailors climb to the top of the mast.
RiggingRopes that helped to hold up the masts and sails.
Royal NavyThe part of the British Armed Forces that looks after security on the seas.
RudderA board at the back of the ship used for steering.
SailA fabric surface that catches the wind.
SchoonerA fast sailing ship with two masts.
ScurvyA disease that was caused by not having enough Vitamin C in the diet.
ShantyA song sung by pirates and sailors.
Ship riggerSomeone who looks after the rigging on a ship.
ShipwreckThe parts of a ship left after it has wrecked.
SlaveA person who is forced to work for someone else.
SloopA small, fast ship that was used by lots of pirates.
SloopersBaggy trousers worn by pirates.
SmugglerSomeone who brings goods into a country without paying tax.
SparsA wooden pole that supports the sails on a ship.
Square RiggerA ship with square sails that are at right angles to the mast.
Steep TubA large pot used for cooking on a ship.
StoresPlaces used to keep supplies on a ship.
SurgeonSomeone who treated sick and injured people.
SurrenderHanding over control to someone else after fighting them.
TarA thick, sticky material that was used to protect objects against the weather.
Tarred RopeA rope covered in tar.
ThreatenWhen people say they are are going to hurt or kill someone.
TortureHurting people on purpose.
TreasureValuable items, like gold and silver.
VesselShips and boats.
VikingsScandinavian people who explored and raided from the 8th to the 11th centuries.
VoyageA journey.
© Teaching Packs - Pirates - Page 30
© Teaching Packs - Pirates - Page 31