Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Filibuster FILIBUSTER, a sea-
rover; a pirate; a corsair; a freebooter, or buccaneer;
sometimes applied to any military adventurer who undertakes an
expedition against a territory, unauthorized by law or the
exigencies of war. The term filibuster, now used in any country
where the English language is spoken, was first applied in New
Orleans to certain adventurers who, after the termination of the
war between this country and Mexico, exerted themselves with
setting on foot within the United States military expeditions
designed to operate in the Spanish-American countries to the S.
of us. The pretended object of these expeditions was the
emancipation of those countries from tyranny, foreign or
domestic, and the introduction of democratic institutions after
the model of the United States. The most noted expedition of
this sort was that led by Walker against Nicaragua in 1855. See
Walker, William.