corsair English · revision 1912

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kɔːɹsɛəɹ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|corsaire|t=pirate]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from Old Provençal ''corsari'',^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|it|corsaro]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|la-med|cursarius|t=pirate, runner]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|la|cursus|t=course, a running]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from ''currere'' “to run”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The sense of Medieval Latin ''cursus'' moved from “course” to “expedition” to a raid for plunder.^(Etymonline)^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995) It is related to [[course]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A privateer of the Mediterranean, especially of the Barbary Coast (1549).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The OED, quoted by Etymonline, notes that in English the word has often been treated as identical with ''pirate'', although the Barbary corsairs were authorized by their own governments.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The word was applied to the ship itself from 1632.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1549 – a privateer of the Barbary Coast.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1632 – a privateering vessel.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[pirate]], especially one of the [[Barbary Coast]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A fast ship used for piracy, often with official sanction; a [[privateer]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[course]]

+ * [[current]]

+ * [[hussar]]

+ * [[buccaneer]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}