picaroon
/ˌpɪkəˈruːn
/noun
1 archaic A rogue or scoundrel.The words typically used in English translation, ‘rogue,’ ‘picaroon,’ ‘knave,’ etc., do not have the same connotations as the Spanish ‘picaro.’...
- He describes us as a ‘picaroon’ society, never really evolving from the days of slavery and brutality.
1.1 historical A pirate or privateer.When a British warship appears offshore and picaroon pirates launch terrorizing raids on the island in search of rumored treasure, Molly and Rafe warn the residents, save her injured father, and reveal the true identity of Mrs. Ben....
- Thus many pirates became a combination of slaver, privateer and pirate, and by the 1830s the term picaroon had come to mean both pirate and slaver.
- As the picaroon attacks continued unabated, pressure increased for the Maryland government to act.
Origin
Early 17th century: from Spanish picarón, augmentative of picaro 'rogue'.