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Literary
June 20, 1911
The Monroe Journal
Monroe, Union County, North Carolina
What is this article about?
An article investigates the etymology of the pirate flag's name 'Jolly Roger,' proposing it derives from 'raw head and bloody bones,' an older term for the death's head and crossbones symbol dating to 1550, likely corrupted by sailors. Previously linked to 'rogue,' but this phonetic evolution is suggested.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
The Jolly Roger.
The question why the pirate flag was called the "jolly roger" was investigated twenty years or more ago and not very satisfactorily determined. The best opinion at that time centered upon the use of roger as a common cant equivalent of rogue. It seems, however, quite as likely that roger, for the black ensign was known both as roger and jolly roger, is a corruption of a name yet earlier. The distinctive blazonry of this flag has always been the mortuary trickery of death's head and crossbones, familiar enough on ancient tombstones.
The older name of the device was raw head and bloody bones, this being identified in use as early as 1550. For the establishment of this explanation we lack record of the intervening stages, but the corruption of raw head into roger is well within the phonetic possibilities of seafaring men. New York Sun.
The question why the pirate flag was called the "jolly roger" was investigated twenty years or more ago and not very satisfactorily determined. The best opinion at that time centered upon the use of roger as a common cant equivalent of rogue. It seems, however, quite as likely that roger, for the black ensign was known both as roger and jolly roger, is a corruption of a name yet earlier. The distinctive blazonry of this flag has always been the mortuary trickery of death's head and crossbones, familiar enough on ancient tombstones.
The older name of the device was raw head and bloody bones, this being identified in use as early as 1550. For the establishment of this explanation we lack record of the intervening stages, but the corruption of raw head into roger is well within the phonetic possibilities of seafaring men. New York Sun.
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What keywords are associated?
Jolly Roger
Pirate Flag
Etymology
Death Head
Crossbones
Raw Head
Bloody Bones
What entities or persons were involved?
New York Sun
Literary Details
Title
The Jolly Roger.
Author
New York Sun
Subject
Origin Of The Pirate Flag Name 'Jolly Roger'
Form / Style
Prose Etymological Investigation
Key Lines
The Older Name Of The Device Was Raw Head And Bloody Bones, This Being Identified In Use As Early As 1550.
The Corruption Of Raw Head Into Roger Is Well Within The Phonetic Possibilities Of Seafaring Men.