corsair

American  

[kawr-sair] / ˈkɔr sɛər /

noun

1. a fast ship used for piracy.

2. a pirate, especially formerly of the Barbary Coast.

3. Military. Corsair, a gull-winged, propeller-driven fighter plane built for the U.S. Navy in World War II and kept in service into the early 1950s.

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corsair British  

/ ˈkɔːsɛə /

noun

1. a pirate

2. a privateer, esp of the Barbary Coast

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Etymology

Origin of corsair

First recorded in 1540–50; from Middle French corsaire, from Provençal corsar(i), from Upper Italian corsaro, from Medieval Latin cursārius, equivalent to Latin curs(us) course + -ārius -ary

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

corsair

Ermanno Scervino, for his part, unveiled a "corsair" woman, in a wide red and beige jacket with gold buttons, worn over a mini-short.

From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026

Much of its layout dates back to its time as an Ottoman protectorate and entrepot for corsair plunder, in the centuries before a French expeditionary force landed at Sidi Ferruch in 1830.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 22, 2022

The Lancia Aurelia America is an Italian classic, and the European designers borrowed wraparound windshields and corsair bumper design from their U.S. counterparts.

From New York Times ● Aug. 19, 2021

Surrounded by pirates more glam-rock hair than menacing corsair, Walken’s Hook moved with a knowing, and occasionally line-dropping, weariness that might have been camp if only the Captain were able to summon the energy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 5, 2014

Beneath awnings, tourists browse over blue-and-white-striped sweaters and framed watercolors of corsair ships; a father sings as he puts his arm around a daughter.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

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