buccaneer


buc·ca·neer

noun \ˌbə-kə-ˈnir\

Definition of BUCCANEER

1
: any of the freebooters preying on Spanish ships and settlements especially in 17th century West Indies; broadly : pirate
2
: an unscrupulous adventurer especially in politics or business
buccaneer intransitive verb
buc·ca·neer·ish \-ish\ adjective

Examples of BUCCANEER

  1. <buccaneers who preyed upon treasure-laden ships in the Caribbean>

Origin of BUCCANEER

French boucanier woodsman, pirate (in the 17th century West Indies), from boucaner to smoke meat, from boucan wooden frame for smoking meat, from Tupi mokaʔẽ́, mbokaʔẽ́, from mo-, mbo- causative marker + kaʔ to be roasted, dried
First Known Use: 1686

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