Jolly Roger
noun

- the black flag with a picture of bones on it that was traditionally used on a ship belonging to pirates

- a black flag with a white skull and crossbones formerly used by pirates as their ensign

Cambridge Dictionary / Merriam-Webster

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ORIGIN

The title “Jolly Roger” is thought to come from the French phrase “joli rouge” which means “pretty red”. The original pirate flags were blood red rather than black and white and this signalled that no mercy would be given once the pirates boarded and battle ensued.

Today, the flag symbolises ferocious strength and the drive to succeed, especially if a competition is involved.

—
“JOLLY ROGER”
Song by Roger McGuinn

But thoughts about the Spaniards’ gold
And learnin’ to desire it
Can make a man so brash and bold
He’ll soon become a pirate
Pull away, me lads o’ the Cardiff Rose
And hoist the Jolly Roger

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SYNONYMS
for a person who attacks and robs ships at sea

bandit, brigand, buccaneer, corsair, desperado, fortune seeker, freebooter, marauder, marooner, picaroon, pillager, pirate, plunderer, privateer, raider, rifler, rover, scummer, sea rat, sea robber, sea rover, sea thief, sea wolf, swaggerer, swashbuckler, Viking, water rat

—
SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation today, say something like:

“Let’s make a JOLLY ROGER flag to show the team how determined we are to beat the competition.”

—
HERZLICHEN DANK to all readers helping me keep OWAD alive with single or monthly donations at:

https://donorbox.org/please-become-a-friend-of-owad-3

and,

Paul Smith, IBAN: DE75 7316 0000 0002 5477 40