Côr'sāir, n.

n. [Fr. corsaire, It. corsare, corsale, Pr. corsari, L. Lat. corsarius, from Lat. currere, cursum, to run, cursus, a running, course, whence Sp. corso, cruise, corsa, cruise, coasting voyage, corsear, to cruise against the enemy, corsario, cruising, a privateer authorized to cruise against the enemy.]

1. A pirate; one who cruises or scours the ocean, without authorization, to seize and plunder merchantmen.
2. A piratical vessel.

Barbary corsairs . . . infested the coast of the Mediterranean. Prescott.