Buccaneer

Tilcayo Cats original · Piracy · Sources and editorial assessment · Originals retention rule

A buccaneer was a maritime raider associated with the Caribbean, especially in the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. Buccaneers could be pirates or privateers; the label alone does not establish whether a particular expedition had a government's permission.

Origin of the name

The word developed from French terms connected with preparing smoked meat. It was initially applied to people who supplied meat and other provisions to Caribbean settlers and seafarers. Some of these suppliers became known for their navigation and fighting skills. The name later acquired a wider connection with Caribbean raiders.