Skip to Letter: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T V W Y

GALLEON

A large sailing ship with three or more square masts.

GALLEASS

Similar to a galley, but with broadside guns and oars. A galleass had less firepower than a galleon, but could move even if there was no wind.

GALLEY

A sailing ship which could be propelled by oars when necessary.

GIBBET

Public gallows used for displaying hanged criminals to the public. It was a custom to display pirates in this way as a warning to would-be pirates entering a city, town or harbor.

GRAPPLING IRON

A hooked instrument tied to the end of a rope which was tossed onto the deck of another ship in order to hold it close enough for pirates to board it.

2 GUINEAS

English coin.

GULLY

A big knife sailors used in mutinies when nothing else was available. The gully was better suited for hacking and most commonly only one side of the blade contained an edge. It had numerous uses on board a ship as a eating utensil and a tool for cutting fouled rigging.

HARDTACK

A hard, stale biscuit eaten aboard ship.

HELM

The ship's wheel or tiller which steers the ship by turning its rudder.

HORSE LATITUDES

The horse latitudes are high-pressure areas, located between 30 degrees north and south, in which the wind is light and varied.

ILANUN PIRATE

Ilanun were dreaded pirates of Mindanao, Philippines, who were eventually stamped out in 1863.