Also 6 frebetter, fribooter, 7 frybuter. [ad. Du. vrijbuiter (Kilian, vrijbueter) = Ger. freibeuter, f. the equivalents of FREE a., BOOTY or BOOT sb.2, -ER1. Cf. also Eng. flibutor, s.v. FILIBUSTER.] One who goes about in search of plunder; esp. a pirate or piratical adventurer.
1570. Michael Coulweber, in Burgon, Life Gresham, II. 360. For so much as I was spoyled by the waye in cominge towards England by the Duke of Alva his frebetters, maye it please the Queene’s Majestie and your honnor to consider me therein to her Majestie, and your honour’s pleasure.
1598. Hakluyt, Voy., I. To Rdr. *5. They tooke fiue strong and warrelike ships of the Freebooters which lay within the sound of Denmark of purpose to intercept our English Fleete.
1622. Malynes, Anc. Law-Merch., 179. If the ship become assailed by Pirats or Frybuters, the mariners are to defend the same, and to assist the master: and if they be found partakers in the taking of the ship, they are to be beheaded for it.
a. 1659. Bp. Brownrig, Serm. (1674), I. xxix. 376. Such as the Danites were, and their threatenings of Micah … Free-booters they were, and did all by force.
1726. Shelvocke, Voy. round World (1757), 12. My entrace was opposed by all the ships there, who were about thirteen in number, and who fired several shot at me, mistaking me for a free-booter.
1776. Adam Smith, W. N., IV. vii. (1869), II. 151. The French colony of St. Domingo was established by pirates and free-booters, who, for a long time, neither required the protection, nor acknowledged the authority of France.
1838. Thirlwall, Greece, V. xlii. 214. Every freebooter was, or might easily become, a pirate.
1856. Olmsted, A Journey in the Seaboard Slave States, 314. Whenever the connection is not made, all passengers whom these rail-road freebooters have drawn into their ambush, are obliged to remain over a day, at Gaston.
transf. and fig. 1600. W. Watson, Quodlibets Relig. & State, iv. (1602), 100. So … to send abroad his fribooters … against other words and writings.
a. 1656. Bp. Hall, Occas. Medit. (1851), 20. What is this, but an emblem of those spiritual freebooters, that lie in wait for our souls?
1886. A. Winchell, Walks & Talks Geol. Field, 240. The fierce shark, equally unfit for food, is the free-booter of the ocean.
Hence † Freebooter v. intr. (see quot.); Freebootery, the practice of freebooters.
1659. Torriano, Vivere à discrettione … for a souldier to free-booter or free-quarter in any place.
1822. T. L. Peacock, Maid Marian, xviii. 273. In the pure principles of freebootery have they excelled all men.
1851. Sir F. Palgrave, Norm. & Eng., I. 448. The pirate-kings, dispersed as they were, agreed unanimously to forego their free-bootery.
