Jolly roger

//ˌdʒɒli ˈɹɒdʒə// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The traditional flag used on European and American pirate ships, and, more recently, by submarine crews, often pictured as a white skull and crossbones on a black field; the blackjack.

    "A Day or two after they parted, [Francis] Spriggs was choſe Captain by the reſt, and a black Enſign was made, which they called Jolly Roger, with the ſame Device that Captain [Edward] Low carried, viz. a white Skeliton in the Middle of it, with a Dart in one Hand ſtriking a bleeding Heart, and in the other, an Hour Glaſs; when this was finiſhed and hoiſted, they fired all their Guns to ſalute their Captain and themſelves, and then looked out for Prey."

  2. 2
    a flag usually bearing a white skull and crossbones on a black background; indicates a pirate ship wordnet

Etymology

Possibly from jolly + Roger (“dialectal nickname for the Devil”).

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