11

Typically I find hearty to be used as an adjective, for example:

  • Thank you for this hearty meal

  • He gave a hearty laugh

The definition for which can be found in any dictionary and can mean things like warm-hearted, genuine, forceful, etc.

The noun meaning being

a brave or good fellow, especially with reference to a shipmate.

I couldn't find any reason why it should be especially applied to men of the sea.

Is there a reason why, for pirates in particular, shipmates are hearties?

Improve this question
1
  • 2
    I was thinking we might see a question related to "International Talk Like a Pirate Day"! Thanks for providing one!
    – Cyberherbalist
    Sep 19, 2013 at 16:23

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
6

The OED says

A hearty fellow; a brave, vigorous man; esp. in phr. my hearty!, my hearties! used in addressing sailors. Hence, a sailor, a jack-tar.

No mention of sea-shanties, and no suggestion that the "hearty work" accompanied by them had any particular relevance. Once again it is a fairly transparent use of a word which to my mind doesn't require any special explanation.

But it clearly is associated with the sea from the beginning: the earliest citation is from Phantom Ship by F Marryat in 1839.

Improve this answer
6
  • 2
    Aye, sir, the meaning be plain, but not why it should be particularly for a man o' the sea.
    – Matt E. Эллен
    Sep 19, 2011 at 12:47
  • I mean - I wouldn't call builders "hearties", or other labourers. It's specifically reserved for pirates these days.
    – Matt E. Эллен
    Sep 19, 2011 at 12:53
  • 1
    Just a thought. The naval march 'Heart of Oak' was written in 1759 and refers to the oak from which the ships of the Royal Navy were built. Was the 'heart' bit subsequently transferred to the crew and did it become 'hearties' in the process? Possible, I suppose.
    – Barrie England
    Sep 19, 2011 at 15:06
  • @Matt, you're right, the OED has no answer to why it's particularly for sailors. Note that it is almost always used with "my" - another unexplained restriction.
    – Colin Fine
    Sep 20, 2011 at 12:09
  • @Barrie England: yes, that's possible, and quite attractive. But unless somebody can find any contemporary evidence, it will remain an idle speculation. Note that the OED's first attribution is eighty years later: the word was no doubt in use before recorded, and the march may have taken some years to become widely known; but there is still a gap.
    – Colin Fine
    Sep 20, 2011 at 12:11
7

I believe this comes from similar roots as the tradition of sea shanties:

In the days when human muscles were the only power source available aboard ship, sea shanties served a practical purpose: the rhythm of the song served to synchronize the movements of the sailors as they toiled at repetitive tasks. They also served a social purpose: some find singing and listening to songs to be pleasant, and for these people it alleviates boredom and lightens the burden of hard work, of which there was no shortage on long voyages in those days.

There's plenty of references to hearties as workmates in sea shanties: the sailors are performing hearty work.

From Act I, Scene I of Shakespeare's The Tempest:

Boatswain
Heigh, my hearts! cheerly, cheerly, my hearts! yare, yare! Take in the topsail. Tend to the master's whistle. Blow, till thou burst thy wind, if room enough!

The sailors are being encouraged on to happily and joyfully use their hearts to perform this hearty work.

Improve this answer
3
  • 2
    I think rather the sea shanties incorporated the word after it was already commonly used, but I also think you are onto something with the "hearty work" theory.
    – Kit Z. Fox ♦
    Sep 19, 2011 at 11:57
  • The OED’s earliest citation for the nautical use of ‘hearty’ as ‘a brave, vigorous man’ is as late as 1839. That makes it likely that Shakespeare’s use of ‘heart' is rather as a term of endearment, used as such since the fourteenth century.
    – Barrie England
    Sep 19, 2011 at 12:57
  • "In the days when human muscles were the only power source available aboard ship..." Sailing ships? I believe there was another source of power on those. Even galleys had sails on them.
    – nmichaels
    Sep 19, 2011 at 19:12
0

“Hearts, heartiest, put your heart into it” all appear to be synonyms for “hearties”. It could be it’s a term of endearment for one’s fellow crew members. That’s what I take it to be

Improve this answer
2
  • Your answer could be improved with additional supporting information. Please edit to add further details, such as citations or documentation, so that others can confirm that your answer is correct. You can find more information on how to write good answers in the help center.
    – Community Bot
    Nov 4, 2022 at 0:35
  • 1
    What research can you include? Please take a moment to tour the site and see the EL&U help center.
    – livresque
    Nov 4, 2022 at 0:37

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.