First Known Use: 1686
Dictionary
buccaneer
noun buc·ca·neer \ˌbə-kə-ˈnir\
: a person who tries to become wealthy or powerful by doing things that are illegal or dishonest
Full 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
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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 + kaʔẽ to be roasted, dried
Related to BUCCANEER
- Synonyms
- pirate, corsair, freebooter, rover
Rhymes with BUCCANEER
Agadir, atmosphere, auctioneer, balladeer, bandolier, bathysphere, bayadere, Bedfordshire, Bedivere, belvedere, bend one's ear, biosphere, bombardier, boutonniere, brigadier, budgeteer, Cambridgeshire, cameleer, cannoneer, canyoneer, cassimere, cavalier, chandelier, chanticleer, chevalier, chiffonier, chocolatier, chromosphere, commandeer, corsetiere, crystal clear, cuirassier, Derbyshire, diapir, disappear, domineer, ecosphere, Elzevir, engineer, exosphere, fallow deer, fictioneer, financier, fiscal year, fourdrinier, fusilier, gadgeteer, gasolier, gazetteer, ginger beer, Gloucestershire, gondolier, grenadier, Guinevere, hemisphere, Hertfordshire, Holy Year, inner ear, insincere, interfere, in the clear, jardiniere, junketeer, kerseymere, landing gear, lavaliere, marketeer, Meyerbeer, middle ear, missileer, mountaineer, muleteer, musketeer, mutineer, on one's ear, outer ear, overhear, overseer, oversteer, Oxfordshire, pamphleteer, persevere, photosphere, pioneer, pistoleer, privateer, profiteer, puppeteer, racketeer, rocketeer, running gear, scrutineer, sloganeer, sonneteer, souvenir, Staffordshire, steering gear, stratosphere, summiteer, swimmer's ear, thermosphere, troposphere, Tyne and Wear, understeer, vintage year, Vladimir, volunteer, Warwickshire, Windermere, yesteryear
BUCCANEER Defined for Kids
buccaneer
noun buc·ca·neer \ˌbə-kə-ˈnir\
Definition of BUCCANEER for Kids
: pirate
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