/
ˈfɪlɪbʌstə/
n.
- prolonged speaking or other action which obstructs progress in a legislative assembly while not technically contravening the required procedures.
- historical a person engaging in unauthorized warfare against a foreign state.
v.
[
often as noun filibustering]
obstruct legislation with a filibuster.
Etymology
C18: from Fr. flibustier, first applied to pirates who pillaged the Spanish colonies in the West Indies, influenced by Sp. filibustero, denoting American adventurers who incited revolution in Latin America; ult. from Du. vrijbuiter ‘freebooter’.
