Buccaneer

Buccaneer is a term that was used in the later 17th century in the Caribbean Islands. The term Buccaneer comes from the French word "Boucanier". These Boucaniers originally were hunters who were poaching cattle and pigs. They would smoke the meat on wooden frames, "boucans", so that it could be saved for a later time. The Boucaniers were taught this by the local Arawak tribes from Santo Domingo, calling the method Barbicoa - which is where the word and method of Barbecue originated.

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However, Islanders soon began to use the term buccaneer as a way to describe pirates in the Caribbean during the 1660s. English settlers occupying Jamaica began to spread the name with the meaning of rebel pirates sailing in the Caribbean ports and seas. The buccaneers first affected Port Royal, Isla Tortuga and Hispaniola. The name became universally adopted in 1684 when a book: ?The Bucaniers of America? was written by Alexander Exquemelin. After this book, people all over knew what it meant when someone used the term buccaneer.

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Although they seem to have been a nuisance for the Caribbean islands, buccaneers made and changed history in the late 17th century. They fought battles for the English, they impacted trade routes, as well as won numerous battles in Caribbean territory disputes.

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17th century: As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700 in the Gregorian calendar....

Caribbean: The Caribbean or the West Indies is a group of countries and islands in the Caribbean Sea. These countries or islands are located from the southeastern areas of Mexico to the northwest of Venezuela in South America. There are at least 7,000 islands, islets, reefs, and cayes in the region. They are ...

Island: An island or isle is any piece of land smaller than a continent and larger than a rock that is completely surrounded by water. Very small islands are called islets. Although seldom adhered to, it is also proper to call an emergent land feature on an atoll an islet, since an atoll is a type of islan...

Buccaneer related Images and Photos (experimental)

Buccaneer Captain Morgan

The Buccaneer Fredric March 1938

Welsh Buccaneer Governor of Jamaica

The Buccaneer Franciska Gaal Fredric March on Midget Window Card 1938