corsair

• Nom désignant un pirate ou un corsaire opérant le long des côtes barbaresques, ou un navire rapide utilisé pour la course, souvent avec l'autorisation officielle d'un gouvernement.

A noun referring to a pirate operating along the Barbary Coast, or a swift pirate ship often operating with official sanction.

1. Barbary pirateC1formal

   A pirate who operated along the Barbary Coast of North Africa, often attacking ships in the Mediterranean.

   corsaire barbaresque

   • The corsair raided merchant vessels off the coast of Algiers.
   • Barbary corsairs were feared by sailors in the 17th century.
   • The corsair's ship was captured by the British navy.

   Synonymesbarbary piratefreebooterpirate

2. Privateer shipC1formal

   A fast, armed ship used for privateering, often with official permission to attack enemy vessels.

   Navire corsaire

   • The corsair sailed under a letter of marque from the king.
   • They outfitted a swift corsair to hunt enemy trade routes.
   • The corsair's crew shared the spoils of their captures.

   Synonymesprivateer