corsair

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱers- Proto-Indo-European *-éti Proto-Indo-European *ḱr̥séti Proto-Italic *korzō Medieval Latin currō Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Italic *-tus Medieval Latin -sus Medieval Latin cursus Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzijos Medieval Latin -āriusnom. Medieval Latin -ārius Medieval Latin cursāriusder. Italian corsarobor. French corsairebor. English corsair Borrowed from French corsaire, from Medieval Latin cursārius (“pirate”), from Latin cursus (“course, a running; plunder, hostile inroad”). Doublet of courser and hussar.

1. A French privateer, especially from the port of Saint-Malo.
2. A privateer or pirate in general.

   “"If I had been born a corsair or a pirate, a brigand, genteel highwayman or patriot―and they're the same thing," thought Mr. Tappertit, musing among the nine-pins, "I should have been all right. But to drag out a ^([sic]) ignoble existence unbeknown to mankind in general―patience! I will be famous yet."”

3. The ship of privateers or pirates, especially of French nationality.
4. A nocturnal assassin bug of the genus Rasahus, found in the southern USA.
5. A Californian market fish (Sebastes rosaceus).