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The term "filibuster" affords an interesting example of the way in which words and their uses become twisted into something altogether different from their original meaning. It comes from a Dutch word, several centuries old, vrijbuiter, or free vessel or boat. It got somehow into English as "freebooter," and into Spanish as filibustero. The original referred to piracy.
Third Edition, London, 1704: containing Portraits of all the Celebrated Flibustiers, and Plans of some of their Land-Attacks. Nouveaux Voyages aux Isles Francoises de l'Amerique, par le Pere Labat, 1724, Tom. V, pp. 228-230. Webster derives it from the Dutch Vrijbuiter; but that and the corresponding German word were themselves derived.
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