Picaroonery
/ˌpɪkəˈruːnəri/noun
Roguery, piracy, or the behavior of a picaroon—a pirate or unscrupulous adventurer.
Did you know?Picaroonery belongs to the same word family as the picaresque novel, whose antiheroes survive through deception, theft, and social manipulation rather than honor.
Etymological Timeline
Medieval Latin/Romance
Latin
piccare
“To prick or sting; a proposed Romance source connected with biting or sharp behavior.”
16th Century
Spanish
pícaro
“A rogue, rascal, or low-born trickster; the source of the literary picaresque tradition.”
16th Century
Spanish
picarón
“An enlarged form of pícaro, meaning a great rogue or scoundrel.”
Late 16th Century
English
picaroon
“A pirate or predatory adventurer, borrowed from Spanish picarón.”
18th Century
English
picaroonery
“Roguery, piracy, or the conduct associated with a picaroon.”
Modern English
English
picaroonery
“Rare or historical: piracy, plundering, or unscrupulous trickery.”