buccaneer

[ buhk-uh-neer ]
/ ˌbʌk əˈnɪər /

noun

any of the piratical adventurers who raided Spanish colonies and ships along the American coast in the second half of the 17th century.
any pirate.

Origin of buccaneer

1655–65; < French boucanier, literally, barbecuer, equivalent to boucan barbecue (< Tupi, variant of mukém) + -ier -eer

OTHER WORDS FROM buccaneer

buc·ca·neer·ish, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for buccaneer

British Dictionary definitions for buccaneer

buccaneer
/ (ˌbʌkəˈnɪə) /

noun

a pirate, esp one who preyed on the Spanish colonies and shipping in America and the Caribbean in the 17th and 18th centuries

verb (intr)

to be or act like a buccaneer

Word Origin for buccaneer

C17: from French boucanier, from boucaner to smoke meat, from Old French boucan frame for smoking meat, of Tupian origin; originally applied to French and English hunters of wild oxen in the Caribbean