Treasure Island Glossary
Treasure Island is a historical novel, set in the 1700s but written in the late 1800s. Jim sometimes uses words or term that are either invented (e.g ‘the black spot’) or old fashioned slang (e.g grog/grog shop). ‘Black spot’ is explained in the text
Ahoy - cry used by ship to announce something on the horizon e.g “Land ahoy!” (Ch.11)
Black spot - A small circular piece of black card given to a pirate accused by his mates. Punishment - usually death will follow.
Buccaneer - pirate
Coracle - small round, lightweight boat made from natural materials
Coxswain - person who steers ship (Israel Hands on he Hispaniola)
Crew - those working on a ship
Cutlass - long knife or sword
Dizzy to feel faint, unsteady
Flattery – to say nice things to someone in order to please them (e.g. Silver to Jim))
Fluttered - blew gently in the wind
Grog (slang) - alcohol. grog shop: bar, inn
Haggard - tired, unshaven, dirty
Marooned - abandoned with no means of escape e.g. Robinson Crusoe
Mate - short for ‘ship mate’. Slang word for friend still used in British English
Material - type of cloth/textile
Mutiny - when crew refuse to obey a captain. A mutineer is a sailor who mutinies
Parlour - old word for room to entertain guests or customers e.g, in the Admiral Benbow
Rough - in poor condition
Rusty - metal damaged by water
Scowl - angry facial expression
Shudder - involuntary tremble caused by fear or disgust
Sneer - to show disrespect in face or voice.
Solitude alone, lonely
Spy-glass - old word for telescope. In Treasure Island also the name of Silver’s tavern & a mountain
Squawk - sound made by a parrot or other bird
Tattered - damaged, in poor condition through wear/age.
Tavern - bar/pub/inn
Tide - natural movement of the sea (e.g. going in or out on a beach)
Toast - to lift a glass in celebration of someone/something
Treachery - to break an agreement or promise.
Tremble - shake involuntarily (e.g through fear, in an earthquake etc)
Union Jack - Flag of Great Britain (United Kingdom from 1922)
Wrist - joins hand to arm