H, perhaps, in the role of buccaneer? (8)
I believe the answer is:
aspirate
'h perhaps' is the definition.
(the H sound is an aspirated consonant)
'role of buccaneer?' is the wordplay.
'role of' becomes 'as' (I've seen this in other clues).
'buccaneer?' becomes 'pirate' (synonyms).
'as'+'pirate'='ASPIRATE'
'in the' is the link.
(Other definitions for aspirate that I've seen before include "Breathed consonant" , "Higgins taught Eliza to" , "Higgins's initial" , "H sound - suck air in or out" , "Pronounce with an h, like parasite" .)