pirates
The Codex: Y
A – B – C – D – E – F – G – H – I – J – K – L – M – N – O – P – Q – R – S – T – U – V – W – X – Y – Z


Y

Yardarm

"You have the momentary advantage, sir. But I will see you smile from the yard arm, sir."
―Gillette to Jack Sparrow[src] (first screenplay draft)

Either end of the yard of a square rigged ship.

Yarn

"So...You're not after the Fountain."
"I care not for King George or tavern yarns that give hope for a healed limb. But I'd give my left arm for a chance at Blackbeard."
―Jack Sparrow and Hector Barbossa[src]

A story, legend or tale, especially one that is incredible.

Ye

"You'll speak when spoken to."
"And ye will not lay a hand on those under the protection of parley."
"Aye, sir."
―Bo'sun and Hector Barbossa[src]

A term often used amongst sailors, which means you.

Ye Gods

"Ye Gods! Glacier! Wily things creep up out of nowhere!"
―Jack Sparrow[src]

An exclamation used to express astonishment, incredulity, or surprise.

Yellow fever

"The pirate captain rowed over alone to investigate the frigate. What he found was a ship of the dead, sir. The vomito negro, it was. What we call 'yellow jack.'"
"Go on!"
"The captain of this pirate ship was a Spaniard, and he'd had yellow jack when he was a lad, and survived it. They say you can't get it twice. So he assembled his crew, and demanded to know which of them had had it."
―Jack Sparrow and Nathaniel Bainbridge[src]

Yellow fever, also known as yellow jack, or one of the names in Spanish, vómito negro ("black vomit"), is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease of typically short duration. The disease originated in Africa and spread to Europe and the Americas starting in the 17th century with the European trafficking of enslaved Africans from sub-Saharan Africa. Since the 17th century, several major outbreaks of the disease have occurred in the Americas, Africa, and Europe. Don Rafael had yellow jack when he was a lad, and survived it, and investigated a British naval vessel whose entire crew had succumbed to the disease.[1]

Yeoman

A Yeoman was, in a vessel of war, the person in charge of the storeroom.

Yo ho

"Now we pause to appreciate the beginning of the raid proper. First we will unlock the main gate...then lower the flag and replace it with a Jolly Roger. That's the signal to our rickett-ridden crew, and they'd best be watching for it. Ready, lad? Yo ho!"
―Jack Sparrow to Will Turner[src]

Spoken as either "Yo ho" or "Yo-ho-ho", it's an exclamation used as a call, a signal for effort or to attract attention. A more nautical meaning of the phrase being a seaman's chant used while hauling ropes or performing other strenuous work. The phrase was mostly associated with pirates and seafaring, being the basis of the songs "Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)", "Yo Ho Ho (And a Bottle of Rum)" and "Hoist the Colours".

Yourn

"Now, what's the nature of this venture of yourn?"
"I'm going after the Black Pearl. I know where it's going to be, and I'm gonna take it."
―Joshamee Gibbs and Jack Sparrow[src]

Also stylized as your'n, Middle English equivalent to "yours".

Notes and references

  1. ↑ The Price of Freedom, Chapter Two: Lady Esmeralda