Buccaneer

A pirate, especially one who attacked Spanish ships and settlements in the Caribbean during the 1600s-1700s; now used to mean any daring adventurer.

From French 'boucanier' (meat-smoker), derived from Taíno (Caribbean native language) 'buccan' (smoking frame for meat). Originally referred to French hunters in the Caribbean who smoked meat, but evolved to mean pirates who operated in those waters.