freebooter

Etymology

free + booty + -er. Calque of Dutch vrijbuiter (literally “free booty-er”), from vrij (“free”) + buit (“booty”) + -er (occupational suffix). Doublet of filibuster.

noun

  1. An adventurer who pillages, plunders or wages ad-hoc war on other nations.
    The military aspect should, however, be carefully studied, as the result may be to dispel the time-honoured connection between forest and freebooter under modern conditions with long-range rifles. May 10, 1901, G. H. Davies, “Forest in War”, in The Agricultural Journal and Mining Record, volume 4, number 5, page 142
  2. One who rehosts online media without authorization; one who freeboots.

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