A Useless History

The origin of the words "buccaneer" and "barbeque":

Shockingly enough, the origins of these words are related. When the Spaniards started coming over to America, they left cows on many of the Caribbean islands so that if their sailors hit a storm or were lost at sea, they could have food until they got their bearings. Later, the pirates started to use these islands as hideouts. They would carry grills called "buccans" with them to utilize the forethought of the Spanish. Hence, the pirates became known as "buccaneers." One of these buccaneers was named Barbeque.

So, the story could be told in a single sentence: The name of a grill became synonymous with pirate, and the name of a pirate became synonymous with a grill. I guess turnabout is fair play.

(A number of other explanations are available for the origin of "barbeque." According to the more plausible sources, for instance, "barbeque" may also be derived from a word common to several of the native languages: "barabicu," meaning "sacred fire pit." But stories involving pirates are always cooler!)