J. F. and a score below . . . Flint's characteristic signature: his initials with a line drawn below them and a knot (clove hitch) drawn on the line.
jib a triangular sail secured to a stay forward of the foremast.
jib-boom the boom of the jib; the spar extending from its mast or stay to hold the bottom of the jib outstretched.
Jolly Roger a black flag of pirates, with a white skull and crossbones.
jolly-boat a sailing vessel's small boat, usually carried on the stern.
keel-haul to haul a person down through the water on one side of a ship, under the keel, and up on the other side as punishment or torture.
keelson a longitudinal beam or set of timbers fastened inside the hull of a ship along the keel to add structural strength.
keg of pork a barrel of pork cured in salt for preservation.
lanyard a short rope or cord used on board ship; a cord hung round the neck (by sailors) used to hang something.
lay to . . . keep a bright lookout to lie more or less stationary (as a ship, with the bow into the wind) and keep an alert watch.
link a torch made of tow and pitch; here, Silver uses the word simply to mean "a light" (for his pipe).
Long Tom the "long nine," the ship's gun.
look out for squalls watch out for sudden storms; that is, for sudden trouble.
"looped for musketry" with small ports for firing weapons.
lubber an inexperienced, clumsy sailor.
luff to turn the bow of a ship toward the wind.
lugger a small vessel equipped with a lugsail (a four-sided sail supported by a spar — a slender wooden rod — that is fastened to the mast).
