In pirate's code, what is parley?

Answer by  Roland27 (16334)

Parley means that you invoke your right to be taken to the Captain of the ship instead of being killed or harmed by the pirates that have captured you. According to the code the pirates who had captured you could not touch you until you spoke to their captain, although that didn't always happen.

Answer by  Vllad45 (1886)

Parley is a term taken from a historic slang language utilized by unsavory groups for hundreds of years; this term was used, primarily by those "in the know," to demand a discussion or conference with the captain (usually of an attacking ship). Pirates were supposed to honor this rather than instantly killing the party who spoke it.

Answer by  amswplusone (652)

The pirate term parley is derived from the French word Parlais (pronounced the same in French - pirate spelling tends to be phoenetic), which literally means talk. For pirates, it generally involves two parties meeting under a cease-fire or other non-violent agreement to discuss surrender, barter (trade), establishing contract, etc.

Answer by  jlmk (20)

According to Hollywood and The Pirates of the Caribbean, parlay entitles its invoker to free passage in order to negotiate with a ship's captain. The notion that pirates had (or have! ) such codes, or laws, is of course disputable. "Parlay" itself is of French origin, and refers to any conference, typically with an enemy.

Answer by  turker297 (87)

Parley is a communication action. It's basically a talk between leaders, such as kings, or captains to discuss affairs and negotiations. In the Pirates of the Caribbean series, a person put under distress by a pirate may exclaim "parley" for immediate protection. The attackers must then bring the victim to their ship's captain for negotiation of further protection or release.