Posted by Robert Thompson on 08/08/00 from 212.229.58.245 via proxy finch-06.www-cache.demon.co.uk:
In Reply to: Re: Picts and Martyrs Oddities posted by Robert Hill on August 08, 2000 at 13:01:19:
The "jolly" of Jolly Roger is nothing to do with the adjective meaning "jovial" nor the adverb meaning "very". The Jolly Roger is a corruption of Jolie Rouge, a flag or standard used originally by the Knights Templar. After they were defeated by Philip IV of Spain on Friday October 13th 1307 (hence our superstition for the day) they roamed the high seas. If any ship they attacked was met with the red version of the flag, it meant that no quarter was given and that a fight to the death was likely.