filibuster

Where does the word "filibuster" come from? It comes from Dutch vrijbuiter, passing through Spanish before entering English (1850s).

Filibuster’s story begins in Dutch: vrijbuiter meant “one who freely takes plunder.” Literally free booty-taker, the same root behind freebooter. By 1800s, the word had taken hold in Spanish as filibustero. From Dutch 'vrijbuiter', freebooter; William Walker's 1850s raids on Central America were called filibusters. It reached English by 1850s as filibuster. The US Senate sense of obstructing a vote by speaking at length dates from the 1850s. Today, filibuster means the use of prolonged speech or other tactics to obstruct legislative action.

1. Stage 1 · Dutch · 1500s vrijbuiter "one who freely takes plunder", literally free booty-taker, the same root behind freebooter.
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · 1800s filibustero "a pirate, an unauthorized adventurer", from Dutch 'vrijbuiter', freebooter; William Walker's 1850s raids on Central America were called filibusters.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1850s filibuster "the use of extreme obstructive tactics in a legislature", the US Senate sense of obstructing a vote by speaking at length dates from the 1850s.