anchorage - a safe place to stop and put down the anchor
arch - greatest or biggest or main
barrage - burst of gunfire and cannon fire
beady - small and hard, like a bead
behead - to cut off someone's head
belching - burping, coming out in big gusts
blackguard - a villain, or very bad person
bloodshot - red and looking like blood
board - to climb on board a ship
booty - another word for treasure
brigands - another name for pirates
broadside - this is where all the cannons on one side of a ship fire at once
captives - people who have been caught by the enemy
cleaving - cutting with a sword
clench - push your teeth hard together
commandeer - to take control of
crippled - damaged, and unable to move
crow's nest - a small platform at the top of the mast, where sailors can see a long way over the water
debris - bits and pieces that have broken off
destination - the place that you are going
disabled - injured or damaged, unable to move properly
distinguish - be able to see clearly
extinguish - to put out (like a fire)
fleet - a group of ships sailing together
frenzy - a mad mess where everyone is rushing around
heaving to - to turn into the wind and stop in the water
hesitate - wait just a little bit
hewing - cutting with a sword, slashing
hinder - the opposite of help. To make it hard
hoist - to lift up (eg sails or anchor)
horizon - where the sea meets the sky, way in the distance
hull - the main body of the boat, the wooden part that sits in the water
identify - recognize, know who it is
imposing - very big and important looking
inhabitants - people who live there
investigate - see what you can find out
listing - leaning over to one side
lob - a big high throw, like a high overarm throw
lure - make you want to come, trick you into coming
obscures - hides, makes it hard to see
piecemeal - bit by bit, one piece after another
plummets - comes whizzing down really fast
powder magazine - a place on the ship where they store the gunpowder
profitable - making you a lot of money
provisions - food and water, or supplies
pursuit, pursuing - chase or follow, chasing or following
quenching - putting out the fire
rabble - a crowd of noisy people
rasping - making a rough, scratchy sound
recreation - playing round and doing things for fun
relaxation - lying about doing nothing
remnants - bits and pieces left over
reputation - what people know about that person
resounding - making a loud noise that echoes
rigging - the masts and ropes and sails on a sailing ship
rumour, rumoured - something people talk about, but they don't know if it is true
scum - a rude word meaning terrible people
scurry, scurrying - rushing round being busy
scuttle - rush quickly like an insect
sears - cuts through by burning
seaworthy - in good shape, ready to go to sea
shank - the long straight part
slaughter - lots of people being killed or hurt
smirk - a horrible smile where someone is being smart
splinter, splintering - a tiny little piece, breaking into tiny little pieces
starboard - the right side of the ship, when you are looking towards the bow
striking - taking down the sails
taken its toll - tired you out
thrust - push (with your sword)
tow - to pull along behind you
valuable - worth a lot of money
victim - a person who gets hurt by a horrible bully
yonder - an old word that means over there