picaroon
Definitions
from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- noun A rogue or cheat; one who lives by his wits; an adventurer.
- noun A plunderer; especially, a plunderer of wrecks; a pirate; a corsair.
- noun An instrument like a boat-hook, used in mooring logs or deals.
- noun A small pirate ship; a privateer or corsair.
Examples
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Off the island of Planoca it was overpowered and captured by a little picaroon, with lateen sails and a couple of guns, and a most villainous crew, in poverty-stricken garments, rusty cutlasses in their hands and stilettos and pistols stuck in their waistbands.
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As to the picaroon or privateer, she was able to do little in the matter, not daring to come so near the men-of-war as to take a broadside, which her thin sides would not have been able to bear, but would have sent her to the bottom at once; so that the English men-of-war had no assistance from her, nor could she prevent the taking the two merchant-ships.
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The space-axe -- a combination and sublimation of battle-axe, mace, bludgeon, and lumberman's picaroon, a massively needle-pointed implement of potentialities limited only by the physical strength and bodily agility of its wielder.
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It seemed fantastic that this noble gentleman, this very type of the perfect soldier, with the brown face of a picaroon and an athletic valour of body, should become a preacher even in necessity.
Note
The word 'picaroon' comes from a Spanish word meaning 'rogue'.
