walk the plank

Perhaps more famous than historically practiced, walking the plank is the act of being forced off a ship by pirates as punishment or torture. The victim, usually blindfolded or with bound hands or both, is forced to walk along a plank, laid over the ship's side, and fall into the water below. The concept first appeared in nineteenth century fiction, long after the great days of piracy. History suggests that this can be vaguely documented as having happened once, but it is etched in the image of the pirates for its dastardly content.