Pirate Age Vocabulary

Name:

Date:

Instructions: Ahoy! Test your knowledge of words from the Golden Age of Piracy (1650s-1730s)

1.
In pirate parlance, what did 'Davy Jones' Locker' refer to?
A
A pirate's storage room
B
The bottom of the sea — where drowned sailors rest
C
A treasure chest
D
A famous pirate's hideout
2.
What was a 'privateer' during the Age of Piracy?
A
A secret pirate
B
A private guard
C
A privately owned ship authorized by a government to attack enemy vessels
D
A private island
3.
In pirate vocabulary, what did 'avast' mean?
A
Attack
B
Go quickly
C
Stop or hold fast
D
A large area
4.
What was 'grog' on a pirate ship?
A
A swamp creature
B
A type of fog
C
Thick porridge
D
Watered-down rum, often with lemon juice
5.
In pirate terms, what was a 'cutlass'?
A
A small boat
B
A short, broad slashing sword favored by sailors
C
A type of glass
D
A type of knot
6.
What did 'keelhauling' involve as a pirate punishment?
A
Being locked in the hold
B
Cleaning the keel
C
Walking the plank
D
Dragging a person under the ship from one side to the other
7.
In pirate vocabulary, what was 'booty'?
A
Stolen goods or treasure
B
A dance move
C
A type of boot
D
The back of a ship
8.
What was a 'buccaneer' originally?
A
A type of deer
B
A Caribbean pirate, originally a hunter who smoked meat on a 'boucan'
C
A sailing technique
D
A type of cannon
9.
In pirate speak, what did 'scallywag' (or 'scalawag') mean?
A
A type of fish
B
A rascal or scoundrel
C
A ship's flag
D
A dog
10.
What was a 'Jolly Roger' during the Age of Piracy?
A
A type of rum drink
B
A pirate's parrot
C
A pirate flag, typically showing a skull and crossbones
D
A happy pirate
11.
In pirate terminology, what was 'plunder'?
A
A heavy anchor
B
To sink a ship
C
A type of thunder
D
To rob or steal goods by force
12.
What was a 'letter of marque' in the Age of Piracy?
A
A love letter
B
A pirate's farewell note
C
A map to treasure
D
A government license allowing a private ship to attack enemy vessels
13.
In pirate lingo, what did 'scurvy' refer to?
A
A type of wave
B
A disease caused by vitamin C deficiency, common among sailors
C
Dirty or messy
D
Bravery
14.
What did 'marooning' mean as a pirate punishment?
A
Tying someone to the mast
B
Throwing someone overboard
C
Painting the ship maroon
D
Abandoning someone on a deserted island
15.
In pirate vocabulary, what was a 'doubloon'?
A
A Spanish gold coin prized by pirates
B
A type of knot
C
A cannon that fired two shots
D
A double-sided coin flip

Find more free puzzles and brain games at www.SeniorBrainGames.org