Jolly Roger

plural Jolly Rogers

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.First known use early 18th c.

   The Hispaniola still lay where she had anchored; but, sure enough, there was the Jolly Roger—the black flag of piracy—flying from her peak.

   1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, “Narrative Resumed by Jim Hawkins; the Garrison in the Stockade”, in Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC, part IV (The Stockade), page 151

   3 more examples

   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.

   1724, Charles Johnson [pseudonym], “Of Captain Spriggs and His Crew”, in A General History of the Pyrates, […], 2nd edition, London: Printed for, and sold by T. Warner, […], →OCLC, pages 411–412

   Havana was closely guarded by the dual castles; the more famous of them being the Morro Castle. The castles' purpose long since disregarded, stood as a reminder to the Cubans to keep foreigners at bay. Years ago to accomplish just that—keeping foreigners at bay, chains had been hung between the two castles to keep marauding pirates out. But over the years, money and greed had been able to seep through these chains, and now the pirates no longer came in their schooners, flying jolly Rogers, but as capitalistic businessmen carrying the almighty dollar. During [Fulgencio ] Batista's regime, these United States capitalists were welcomed with open arms and left to loot the Cubans of their lands and properties.

   2003, Donna Marie Robie, chapter 53, in The Cuban Connection: Operation Sugar Cane, Lincoln, Neb.: iUniverse, →ISBN, page 241

   [I]t is a documented fact that pirates captured treasures of jewels and gold while Jolly Rogers or bloody flags flew atop their mainmasts (although they were more likely to capture a "treasure" of socks, molasses, and flour).

   2005, Michele Torrey, “Author’s Note”, in Voyage of Plunder: Chronicles of Courage, New York, N.Y.: Yearling, Random House Children's Books, published March 2007, →ISBN, page 184

   Synonyms: black flag, Roger