shiver my timbers
/ˈʃɪvɚ maɪ ˈtɪmbɚs/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.80 in modern English
30
Scrabble Score
15
Letters
3
Syllables
10
Unique Chars
Meaning
intj
A mild oath expressing surprise, disbelief or annoyance, stereotypically regarded as being uttered by pirates.
Example Sentences
- "I was informed I ſhould meet my dear Anna ſomewhere in theſe woods: I have been ſteering all points of the compaſs, but in vain. However, after having given chaſe to an enemy, ſhall I tamely haul my wind when my miſtreſs is in view? No;—ſhiver my timbers if I do. The man who meanly deſerts his King or his miſtreſs, deſerves to be ſhot for a traitor to both!"
- "I weighed anchor inſtantly, and bore up right a-head to Dynevawr-houſe as faſt as my wooden leg would carry me. […] Shiver my timbers! what do you think I found 'em at? Split my wind if there was not a gang, with Mrs. Martha at the head, working away at the temple which was built for us to take our grog in."
- ""The score!" he burst out. "Three goes o' rum! Why, shiver my timbers, if I hadn't forgotten my score!" And, falling on a bench, he laughed until the tears ran down his cheeks."
- "When I wake up the next morning there's a seagull on my windowsill. […] They're such big birds, seagulls, so loud and cocksure and arrogant. If they could speak they would all sound like sailors. All avast! and ahoy there! and shiver me timbers! and they'd smoke reedy pipes and down flagons of foamy ale."
Etymology
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈʃɪvɚ maɪ ˈtɪmbɚs/
- British English: /ˈʃɪvə maɪ ˈtɪmbəs/