corsair

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a pirate along the Barbary Coast
  2. noun a swift pirate ship (often operating with official sanction)

Etymology

Borrowed from French corsaire, from Medieval Latin cursārius (“pirate”), from Latin cursus (“course, a running; plunder, hostile inroad”). Doublet of courser and hussar.

In classic literature

Synonyms

Barbary pirate

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