2005.02.05
Arrr Etymology?
Today I made some exploration into the etymology of the pirate usage of, “Arrr.”
Arrr is used in a variety of forms. It can be used as a greeting, an affirmative reaction, an expression of sympathy, an inquiry for more information, a call for attention, and more. So where did it come from? Some quick research online (in probably the wrong places) revealed nothing solid. The best I could find was this page that says, “In popular culture, pirates are associated with a stereotypical manner of speaking and dress. This tradition owes much to Robert Newton’s portrayal of Long John Silver in the 1950 film adaptation of Treasure Island.”
I have a sneaking suspicion that it is a mangling of the the word “aye” whose meaning grew to fit circumstances of that stereotypical pirate image we have today. Aye probably became arrr in the same way that many pronounce Washington as Warshington. Does anyone else have any ideas or a link to an actual answer?
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