Well me hearties, having sailed the stormy seas with Spid and the gang, how well do you know the anatomy or parts of a pirate ship? Well now is the opportunity to find out and perhaps learn a thing or two …

Name the parts of a pirate ship?

So in our free download, you’ll find an image of a pirate ship, and a list of ship parts. Ask your children to label each part by drawing a line from the name of the part to its location on the pirate ship.

pirate ship from Spid the Spider Joins Sir Francis Duck and His Pirates

Brief glossary of parts

Bow: Front of the ship.

Bowsprit: A pole jutting out on the front or bow of the ship. It is usually used to connect for a small navigational sail.

Captain’s cabin: A room at the stern or rear of the ship where the captain lives, and sometimes works. This would include a large desk on which to put maps.

Fighting top: A small platform at the top of a mast which is used to look out for other ships and land. More commonly called a crow’s nest on non-fighting vessels.

Fore mast: The mast at the front of the ship.

Foresail: The sail attached to the foremast

Gun ports: Flaps on the side of the ship behind which side the ship’s guns or cannons (located on the gun deck).

Hull: The body of the ship.

Jibsail: Sail attached to the bowsprit though more commonly these are triangular.

Keel: The underside of a ship. As a punishment, naughty sailors could be made to walk the plank or keel-hauled.

Main mast: The tallest mast located in the middle of a ship.

Mizzen mast: The largest and, perhaps, most important mast. Typically, it is the third mast or the mast rear or aft of the mainmast.

Quarterdeck: The upper deck of a ship, at the rear. This is also where the wheel would be located.

Rudder: A flat piece of wood that dips vertically into the water at the ship’s rear. This swivels from left (port) to right (starboard) to steer the ship by moving the ships’ wheel.

Shrouds or rigging: The system of ropes, chains, and tackle used to support and control the ships’ masts and sails.

Stern: Rear of the ship.

More about the anatomy of a pirate ship.

A brief history of piracy

Piracy was most prevalent during the so-called ‘Golden Age of Piracy’ which covers the period from 1520-1790.  This concides with the rise of the ‘Spanish Main’; the colonisation and conquer of Central America by the Spanish. As Spain colonised the Americas, her treasure fleets plundered silver, gold, spices, cocoa and other goods. However, by 1520, Spanish fleets sailed in convoys to help protect their ships from pirates, privateers and the like. The distinction between pirates and privateers is a fine one. Privateers sailed armed ships with authority from specific Governments though they were only paid in terms of ‘spoils’ stolen from other ships.  The ‘Golden Age of Piracy’ concluded when treasure fleets stopped leaving the Main in 1790.

Further questions and topics for discussion

We’ve left some parts of the pirate ship unlabelled to spur discussion. For example, we’ve omitted the mizzen sail, where do you think that is? We’ve also omitted the crew’s quarters; where do you think the crew live?

For a more in-depth discussion, ask your children to consider or write about what it would be like to be a pirate or live on a pirate ship? Also what do they think of the forms of punishment?

  • Download our proforma quiz on parts of a pirate ship
  • Download our proforma quiz on parts of a pirate ship

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