Jolly Roger

American  

[roj-er] / ˈrɒdʒ ər /

noun

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

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Jolly Roger British  

noun

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

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Jolly Roger Cultural  

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

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Etymology

Origin of Jolly Roger

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

“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.”

From The Verge • Jun. 18, 2022

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

From BBC • May 14, 2022

She and her boyfriend Montana Siniff owned the two-story building where they lived and started the Jolly Roger.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 28, 2021

Next was a replica of Captain Hook’s pirate ship, the Jolly Roger, from the movie “Peter Pan.”

From Washington Times • Mar. 17, 2018

Just like in the wakeful dream, the Jolly Roger moves impossibly fast.

From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston