Believe it or not, the word has its origins in the Pirate world. In those days, wild cutthroats roamed the seas and preyed on all ships regardless of origin or nationality. Such men were often referred to as “buccaneers”, “pirates”, or “freebooters”. The French had only one word to describe such despicable people: Filibustier, which translates loosely into “free booty”. When it became adapted into the English language, it took on a more Anglicized form, which is the more well known FILIBUSTER.
How the word became commonly used in politics was probably due to the feeling of any majority in parliament or congress about the act of a minority in “hijacking” the proceedings. This act of legislative piracy then became known as FILIBUSTERING.
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