Pirate Speak - Drinking

Long trips at sea, hard work and no companionship meant that sailors had a lot of evening hours with nothing to do... so drinking for many became a pastime. These terms are just a few of the larger Pirate Speak article.

Term	Definition
ale	A fermented alcoholic beverage containing malt and hops, similar but heavier than beer.
black jack	large drinking cup made of leather and stiffened with tar
carouser	One who drinks wassail and engages in festivity, especially riotous drinking.
clap of thunder	A strong, alcoholic drink.
Crack a bottle	To open or uncork a bottle.
draught	(also draft) (1) The amount taken in by a single act of drinking. (2) The drawing of a liquid, as from a cask or keg.
grog	(see also spirits) An alcoholic liquor, made from watered down rum and latterly sour fruit juice. It was to ward off scurvy, and minimize the amount of alcohol a man would imbibe. Admiral Vernon is said to have been the first to dilute the rum of sailors.
grog blossom	A redness on the nose or face of persons who drink ardent spirits to excess.
hogshead	(1) A large cask used mainly for the shipment of wines and spirits. (2) A unit of measurement equal to approximately one hundred gallons.
loaded to the gunwall	To be drunk.
Mead	An alcoholic beverage containing fermented honey.
Nelsons folly	Another name for Rum.
nipperkin	A small cup or drink.
rum	An intoxicating beverage, specifically an alcoholic liquor distilled from fermented molasses or sugar cane.
Scotch	A whiskey distilled from malted barley. So named because it originate in Scotland.
Shake a cloth in the wind.	To be dipsy or only a little drunk.
splice the mainbrace	An order given aboard ships to issue the crew with a drink of rum or grog; To have a drink or perhaps several drinks.
spirits	alcoholic beverages; particularly distilled liquor
squiffy	Somewhat intoxicated; tipsy.
Three Sheets to the Wind	To be completely drunk.