Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Corsair
Cor′sair
(k?r′s?r)
, Noun.
[F.
corsaire
(cf. It. corsare
, corsale
, Pr. corsari
), LL. corsarius
, fr. L. cursus
a running, course, whence Sp. corso
cruise, corsa
cruise, coasting voyage, corsear
to cruise against the enemy, to pirate, corsario
cruising, a privateer authorized to cruise against the enemy. See Course
.] 1.
A pirate; one who cruises about without authorization from any government, to seize booty on sea or land.
2.
A piratical vessel.
Barbary
corsairs
. . . infested the coast of the Mediterranean. Prescott.
Webster 1828 Edition
Corsair
CORSAIR
,Noun.
Definition 2025
corsair
corsair
English
Spanish ship fighting Corsairs
Noun
corsair (plural corsairs)
- A French privateer, especially from the port of St-Malo
- A privateer or pirate in general
- 1840, Charles Dickens, Barnaby Rudge, [Chapter 34.]
- "If I had been born a corsair or a pirate, a brigand, genteel highwayman or patriot -- and they're the same thing," thought Mr. Tappertit, musing among the nine-pins, "I should have been all right. But to drag out a [sic] ignoble existence unbeknown to mankind in general -- patience! I will be famous yet."
- 1840, Charles Dickens, Barnaby Rudge, [Chapter 34.]
- The ship of privateers or pirates, especially of French nationality
- A nocturnal assassin bug of the genus Rasahus, found in the southern USA.
- A Californian market fish (Sebastichthys rosaceus).
Synonyms
- (pirate): see Wikisaurus:pirate
Derived terms
Translations
privateersman or pirate