Buccaneer

By Crusader1307

Derived from the French word "Buccan" (which meant a form of wooden device used for roasting meat) and "Boucanier" (as those Hunters who used such devices), the 17th Century term was later anglicized to "Buccaneer". Still meaning "Hunter", these Pirates specialized in raiding Spanish Gold shipments in The Caribbean. Historians link French Colonists to the Region being removed by Spain. Driven out of Hispaniola, some Captained small boats and crews to harass Spain. As their ships and power grew, so did The Buccaneers fame. With English Settlers in the 1690s, the growth of Buccaneers grew, with many Englishmen turning to the trade. Holding sway for over 20 years, many attempts to curb them were attempted. Often hired as Privateers with Letters of Marque, they often still attacked ships they were Allied with nonetheless. With the advent of such Laws as The Piracy Act of 1698, Navies such as France, England and Spain, concentrated their efforts into ridding The Caribbean of Buccaneers (and it's related forms of Pirates). By the end of the 18th Century, the term "Buccaneer" had mostly disappeared.