Library Word of the Week

It's Friday and that means it is time for another Library Word of the Week!

Yesterday, 9/19, was International Talk Like A Pirate Day. In honor of Talk Like A Pirate Day, our word of the week is:

Freebooter

Definition: A Pirate. One who seeks plunder.

Pronunciation: Free-boo-tr

Origin

Originally from the Dutch ‘vrijbuiter’, meaning a ‘plunderer’, or a ‘robber’. In fact, it technically translates as ‘one who seeks ‘free booty” (‘Booty’ incidentally comes from the Low German ‘bute’, referring to commodities – or things that are ‘exchanged’).

Special note from this entry at UnusedWords.com: 

"What particularly fascinated me about Freebooter, however, is its relation to another word. In the 1860s, American adventurers assisted in the (attempted) overthrow of several Central and Southern American governments. They came to be known by a variant of Freebooter – ‘Filibusterer’. After the 1860s, the term ‘filibuster’ came to mean a political act of ‘pirating’ debate by talking down the clock and making it impossible to vote on things." 

Filibuster is a fantastic word to know! It has been in the news fairly recently, in regards to lawmakers in TX. Take the time to check out the news from the 11 hours filibuster that Wendy Davis in TX did. Regardless of political position, standing and talking for 11 hours is a feat. 

What word do you think would be a good word to feature on the next Library Word of the Week?