freebooter
noun
free·boo·ter ˈfrē-ˌbü-tər 
: pirate, plunderer
freeboot
ˈfrē-ˌbüt
intransitive verb 
Synonyms
- buccaneer
- corsair
- pirate
- rover
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
the ship was captured by freebooters who were looking for gold
Recent Examples on the Web In April, 1492, buoyed by the seizure of Granada, Ferdinand and Isabella agreed to sponsor the Italian freebooter Christopher Columbus on his initial expedition across the Atlantic. 
Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2021 Mr. Bugaev is a dedicated, if largely sedentary, Cossack, a centuries-old fraternity of Slavic warriors, freebooters and freedom-loving rebels. Andrew Higgins, New York Times, 14 July 2016 The window of opportunity for freebooters to loom large has closed. Steve Kettmann, WIRED, 2 Nov. 2000
Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2021 Mr. Bugaev is a dedicated, if largely sedentary, Cossack, a centuries-old fraternity of Slavic warriors, freebooters and freedom-loving rebels. Andrew Higgins, New York Times, 14 July 2016 The window of opportunity for freebooters to loom large has closed. Steve Kettmann, WIRED, 2 Nov. 2000 Word History
Etymology
by folk etymology from Dutch vrijbuiter, from vrijbuit plunder, from vrij free + buit booty
First Known Use
1570, in the meaning defined above
freebooters
noun
as in pirates
someone who engages in robbery of ships at sea the ship was captured by freebooters who were looking for gold Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- pirates
- buccaneers
- corsairs
- privateers
- raiders
- marauders
- plunderers
- robbers
- pillagers
- looters
- rovers
- despoilers