Whether the word "hurricane" originally came from the Maya, Taíno, or Carib culture is debated. However, it was the Taíno from the Greater Antilles who first told the Spanish of the evil deity, Hurakán, which manifested itself in a storm of strong winds and rain. Many other words in our lexicon derive from the Taíno language, including canoe (canoa), hammock (hamaca), and barbecue (barbicu or barbacoa).

—Karen Courtnage