The word buccaneer is synonymous with privateer or pirate these days, but it has a totally different meaning.

When I think of a buccaneer, I picture privateers or pirates from the Caribbean – like Jack Sparrow.

And you probably do too, because that’s what they called themselves. The term originally applied to guys
that hunted wild board on the islands down there, not sailors.

The reason I bring any of this up is because of where the word buccaneer comes from. In the Arawak
language, the word buccan refers to a wooden contraption used to smoke manatee meat.

What? I guess it never occurred to me that people eat manatees.

I bet you won’t look at Tampa Bay’s football team the same way.