what does the long in long john silver refer to?
The long in Long John Silver refers to his peg leg. In pirate folklore, Long was a common nickname for a tall or imposing person, and John Silver's use of a wooden peg leg would have made him an imposing figure. The peg leg was also a common stereotype for pirates, who were often depicted as missing limbs from their adventurous and dangerous lives. The name Long John Silver has become synonymous with pirates and is often used to evoke the image of a classic pirate with a long, wooden leg.
How often were pirates really missing limbs?