Note 1 — Chapter XIII · THE BRETHREN OF THE MAIN
Reading edition
Curiously enough, the term “buccaneer,” from the French boucanier, was later adopted by the English freebooters and was applied exclusively to them, whereas the French corsairs took to themselves the English term “freebooters” and pronouncing it to the best of their ability called themselves fribustiers or flibustiers, which eventually became filibustiers.
According to some authorities, notably Van Esveldt in his work on the buccaneers published in 1756, the word “Filibuster” was originally derived from the Spanish “Flibotero,” meaning one who uses a small boat. The British corsairs altered this to “Flybusters” or “Freebooters”; the French used the form “Flibustiers” and the Dutch “Vlieboters.” ↑