freebooter
pronunciation
How to pronounce freebooter in British English:
UK [ˈfri:bu:tə(r)]
How to pronounce freebooter in American English:
US [ˈfriˌbutɚ]
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- Noun:
- someone who takes spoils or plunder (as in war)
Word Origin
- freebooter
- freebooter: see filibuster
- freebooter (n.)
- 1560s, loan-translation of Dutch vrijbuiter "plunderer, robber," from vrijbuiten "to rob, plunder," from vrijbuit "plunder," literally "free booty," from vrij "free" (see free (adj.)) + buit "booty," from buiten "to exchange or plunder," from Middle Dutch buten, related to Middle Low German bute "exchange" (see booty). The English word, Danish fribytter, Swedish fribytare, and German Freibeuter were formed on the model of the Dutch word, which is the source of filibuster (q.v.). The back-formed verb freeboot is recorded from 1590s. Related: Freebooting; freebootery.