Buccaneer

The Buccaneers were pirates who attacked French and Spanish shipping in the 17th and 18th centuries. The term is now used generally as a synonym for pirate.

The name derives from the French word boucan, a frame used by the pirates to cure meat.

Originally based in Hispaniola, they later occupied Tortuga[?], and were invited by the British to base ships at Port Royal in Jamaica. Buccaneers were commissioned by the British to attack the French and Spanish shipping and colonies, making Port Royal the most prosperous city in the West Indies.

See Also

• Piracy in the Caribbean

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Buccaneer is also the name of a low level strike aircraft[?] used by the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force for 35 years up until 1993.