Figgerit Madness

Russ and I, lying in bed last night, me doing Figgerit puzzles, which are sort of a mix of cryptograms and crosswords:

"What's an eight letter word for 'pirate of sorts'?"

"Hmm. Buccaneer?"

"How do you spell Buccaneer?"

"B-U-C-K-A--"

"It isn't spelled like BUCK AN EAR, you know."

"I know. I just like that joke."

"The one about how much it costs pirates to pierce their ears?"

"ARRRGH -- a buck an ear!"