Booty

Pirates called treasure “booty” because the term comes from the Middle English word *boty*, which referred to plunder or goods taken during a battle. The word itself has Germanic origins, related to the Old Norse word *býti*, which means “to share” or “to divide.”

Pirates often shared their loot among the crew, so “booty” became associated with the treasure or valuable goods obtained through piracy. Over time, the word became more specifically linked to the idea of pirate treasure, and that’s how it entered popular culture.