Corsair

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈkɔːsɛː/

Origin

From French corsaire, from Medieval Latin cursārius ("pirate").

Full definition of corsair

Noun

1. A French privateer, especially from the port of St-Malo
2. A privateer or pirate in general
• 1840, Charles Dickens, Barnaby Rudge,"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 ignoble existence unbeknown to mankind in general -- patience! I will be famous yet."
3. The ship of privateers or pirates, especially of French nationality
4. A nocturnal assassin bug of the genus , found in the southern USA.

Derived terms

• Turkish corsair