Old Roger is Jolly Roger

[Stephen Goranson]

Jolly Roger is attested from 1724 in a book, of disputed authorship (‘C. Johnson’ Gen. Hist. Pyrates 193), cited in OED and in a newspaper in the Burney Collection (British Journal (1722) (London, England), Saturday, August 22, 1724; Issue CI. (2056 words).both pages, though the search highlights page one only)

Here follows OED's etymology discussion:
Etymology:  Apparently < jolly adj.<http://oed.com/view/Entry/101618#eid40437037> + a second element of uncertain origin (probably the male forename Roger: see Roger n.2<http://oed.com/view/Entry/166882#eid25185610>), although the semantic motivation of either element is not sufficiently clear.

Quot. 1724<http://oed.com/view/Entry/275286?redirectedFrom=%22jolly+roger%22#eid165733503> suggests a French origin of the term. Perhaps on the strength of this quotation, some have suggested that the term is an adaptation (if so, evidently with folk-etymological alteration) of a French phrase *joli rouge, lit. ‘pretty red’ ( < joli jolly adj.<http://oed.com/view/Entry/101618#eid40437037> + rouge rouge adj.<http://oed.com/view/Entry/167835#eid24993003>), but this etymology is unconvincing, as no such (or similar) phrase appears to be attested in French with reference to a pirate's flag, and the flag in question is (and always was) black rather than red. As for the semantic motivation, the first element may refer to the appearance of the skull, the conventional emblem adorning the flag, with the skull's mouth humorously being taken as showing a broad grin; with the second element, compare Roger n.2 2<http://oed.com/view/Entry/166882#eid166630291> and especially Old Roger at Roger n.2 2b<http://oed.com/view/Entry/166882#eid165954882>.

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The 1724 quotation--On the hoisting of Jolly Roger, (the Name they give their black Flag,) their French hearts failed.--does not *necessarily* suggest a French origin of the term. But the ending suggestion "compare...especially Old Roger at Roger n.2 2b."  There, we are given "Old Roger: (a humorous of familiar name for) the devil." OED has that attested from 1725.


Here is an antedating of Old Roger as the devil, or death, in a context which applies Old Roger to what we know call Jolly Roger.

News .
British Journal (1722) (London, England), Saturday, October 19, 1723; Issue LVII. page 2 col. 1
Parts of the West-Indies.
Rhode-Island, July 26. This Day, 26 of the Pyrates taken by his Majesty Ship the _Greyhound-, Captain _Solgard_, were executed here. Some of them delivered what they had to say in Writing, and most of them said something at the Place of Execution, advising all People, young ones especially, to take warning by their unhappy Fate, and to avoid the Crimes that brought them to it. Their black Flag, under which they had committed abundance of Pyracies and Murders, was affix'd to one Corner of the Gallows. It had in it the Portraiture of Death, with an Hour-Glass in one Hand, and a Dart in the other, striking into a Heart, and three Drops of Blood delineated as falling from it. This Flag they called _Old Roger_, and us'd to say, _They would live and die under it_.

Stephen Goranson
www.duke.edu/~goranson

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