Puzzle Description:

Jolly Roger pirate flag. There are many theories as to how the flag obtained its name. A Wikipedia article on the flag says: "The name "Jolly Roger" goes back at least to Charles Johnson's A General History of the Pyrates, published in Britain in 1724.[3] Johnson specifically cites two pirates as having named their flag "Jolly Roger": Bartholomew Roberts in June, 1721[4] and Francis Spriggs in December 1723.[5] While Spriggs and Roberts used the same name for their flags, their flag designs were quite different, suggesting that already "Jolly Roger" was a generic term for black pirate flags rather than a name for any single specific design. Neither Spriggs' nor Roberts' Jolly Roger consisted of a skull and crossbones.[6] Richard Hawkins, captured by pirates in 1724, reported that the pirates had a black flag bearing the figure of a skeleton stabbing a heart with a spear, which they named "Jolly Roger".[7] Despite this tale, it is assumed by most that the name Jolly Roger comes from the French words jolie rouge, meaning "pretty red" and referring to a plain red flag which was flown to indicate that the ship would fight to the death, with no quarter given or expected.[8] During the Elizabethan era "Roger" was a slang term for beggars and vagrants who "pretended scholarship."[9] "Sea Beggars" had been a popular name for Dutch privateers since the 16th century. Another theory states that "Jolly Roger" is an English corruption of "Ali Raja," supposedly a 17th century Tamil pirate. Yet another theory is that it was taken from a nickname for the devil, "Old Roger".[10] The "jolly" appellation may be derived from the apparent grin of a skull."

#1: Adam Nielson (monkeyboy) on Mar 26, 2011 [SPOILER]

See puzzles # 3694, 4655, and 9080.

Very cool Kit E.

Nice puzzle. I just finished reading a pirate book.

I love the tattered image!

i agree with mendy
cool skull

great one.
one of my favorite children pirate stories is about this...it's by Brett Helquist and called "Roger, the Jolly Pirate". It'll make you all laugh, you ought to check it out. :)

The whole time I was working this I was thinking "this is just the wierdest looking baby on a blanket, what's the matter with him?" Didn't get it till I put in the very last dot, then my perception changed completely. Thanks for a cool image, some interesting language history, and a very fun solve.

Thanks for the information!

Goto next topic

You must register and log in to be able to participate in this discussion.