corsair

Meanings

• noun

  A freebooting seafarer, especially in the western Mediterranean in the late 16th and 17th centuries, who made a living by plundering ships and ports of the Spanish and Portuguese empires.

  - "The corsair attacked the Spanish galleon off the coast of North Africa."
  - "The corsair's treasure was legendary."
  - "The corsair's code of conduct allowed him to take only what was necessary for his crew and himself."

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Pronunciation

1. /ˈkɔːsɛː/
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=924903"

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with corsair
pirate , mate , create , fate , hate

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Variants

List of all variants of corsair that leads to same result
corsair , corsairs

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From the Old Provencal word 'corser', meaning a seller of corn or grain. The term was later corrupted to 'corsaire', meaning a freebooter or pirate.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The term 'corsair' is derived from the Old Provencal word 'corser', which means 'seller of corn'.

2. The famous pirate Blackbeard, whose real name was Edward Teach, was known to have operated as a corsair under the British flag.

3. Corsairs were often paid a percentage of the value of the cargo they captured, making them very wealthy.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. Piracy: A form of maritime crime involving the theft or attack of ships at sea or their cargo and passengers. Piracy was a significant problem in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic during the Age of Discovery and the Age of Sail.

2. Letter of marque: A legal document issued by a European government that authorized a privateer to attack and loot enemy ships during wartime. Privateers were essentially legalized pirates, and they played a significant role in European naval warfare.

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

The term 'corsair' is most commonly associated with the pirates of the Mediterranean Sea during the late Renaissance period. This era of piracy was characterized by the use of large, fast ships called galleons, which could outmaneuver and outgun their prey. Corsairs were often commissioned by European powers to attack enemy ships and ports, and they were given letters of marque that granted them legal protection. However, many corsairs operated outside the law and plundered ships and ports at will. The exploits of famous corsairs like Bartholomew Roberts and Blackbeard have been the subject of numerous books, films, and other works of art.

How to Memorize "corsair"

1. visualize
   

   - Imagine a large, fast ship sailing the Mediterranean Sea, its crew armed and ready to attack enemy ships. Visualize the corsair's flag flying high on the mast, a skull and crossbones emblazoned on it.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the term 'corsair' with piracy and the Mediterranean Sea. Think of the romanticized image of a pirate with a parrot on his shoulder and a treasure chest full of gold and jewels.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Create a mnemonic using the first letter of each word in 'Corsair': C - Coast, O - Off, R - Raiding, S - Ships, A - Against, I - Illicit, R - Riches.

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