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Jolly Roger

[roj-er]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a flag flown by pirates, having the device of a white skull and crossbones on a black field.

Jolly Roger

noun

the traditional pirate flag, consisting of a white skull and crossbones on a black field

Jolly Roger

A black flag with a white skull and crossbones, flown in past centuries by pirate ships.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of Jolly Roger¹

First recorded in 1775–85

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

One of my earliest codified rules was that, while I would be completely transparent about pirate season and all that it entails, never once would my wife lay eyes upon the Jolly Roger.

From

In another image, a sign with “Jolly Roger” on it is in the foreground by a dock; just behind it, a British flag flies.

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“The Jolly Roger... he really didn’t want me to put a skull on that, that was the limit, he didn’t want to see that.”

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A Jolly Roger pirate flag from a World War Two Royal Navy submarine will go under the hammer later.

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Landing the Jolly Roger ends up being trickier than I’d imagined.

From

jolly jumper Jolo

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