Filibusters

Filibusters (Span. filibuster, from filibote or fibote, itself derived from the Eng. fly-boat, a fast-sailing vessel of not more than 100 tons; by others referred, through the Fr. flibustier, formerly fribustier, to the Dutch vrijbuiter, 'freebooter'), another name for Buccaneers (q.v.). In more recent usage the term has been employed to designate certain lawless adventurers belonging to the United States, who have attempted violently to possess themselves of various countries of Spanish America. The plea urged by these men has generally been that such countries were a prey to anarchy and oppression, and could only attain to prosperity by annexation to the United States. The most noted was William Walker (q.v.). See Roche's Story of the Filibusters (1891).