Word Study
corsair
CIDE DICTIONARY
corsair, n. [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.].
- A pirate; one who cruises about without authorization from any government, to seize booty on sea or land. [1913 Webster]
- A piratical vessel. [1913 Webster]"Barbary corsairs . . . infested the coast of the Mediterranean." [1913 Webster]
- A Californian market fish (
Sebastichthys rosaceus ). [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
corsair, n.
1 a pirate ship.
2 a pirate.
3 hist. a privateer, esp. of the Barbary Coast.
1 a pirate ship.
2 a pirate.
3 hist. a privateer, esp. of the Barbary Coast.
Etymology
F corsaire f. med.L cursarius f. cursus inroad f. currere run
ROGET THESAURUS
corsair
Thief
N thief, robber, homo triumliterarum, pilferer, rifler, filcher, plagiarist, spoiler, depredator, pillager, marauder, harpy, shark, land shark, falcon, mosstrooper, bushranger, Bedouin, brigand, freebooter, bandit, thug, dacoit, pirate, corsair, viking, Paul Jones, buccaneer, buccanier, piqueerer, pickeerer, rover, ranger, privateer, filibuster, rapparee, wrecker, picaroon, smuggler, poacher, abductor, badger, bunko man, cattle thief, chor, contrabandist, crook, hawk, holdup man, hold-up, jackleg, kidnaper, rustler, cattle rustler, sandbagger, sea king, skin, sneak thief, spieler, strong-arm man, highwayman, Dick Turpin, Claude Duval, Macheath, footpad, sturdy beggar, cut purse, pick purse, pickpocket, light-fingered gentry, sharper, card sharper, skittle sharper, thimblerigger, rook, Greek, blackleg, leg, welsher, defaulter, Autolycus, Jeremy Diddler, Robert Macaire, artful dodger, trickster, swell mob, chevalier d'industrie, shoplifter, swindler, peculator, forger, coiner, fence, receiver of stolen goods, duffer, smasher, burglar, housebreaker, cracksman, magsman, Bill Sikes, Jack Sheppard, Jonathan Wild, gang, gang of thieves, theft ring, organized crime, mafia, the Sicilian Mafia, the mob, la cosa nostra, Dillinger, Al Capone, Robin Hood.For further exploring for "corsair" in Webster Dictionary Online
