According to the OED, filibuster n. 1 prolonged speaking or other action which obstructs progress in a legislative assembly while not technically contravening the required procedures. 2 (historical) a person engaging in unauthorized warfare against a foreign state. v. [often as noun, 'filibustering'] obstruct legislation with a filibuster. ORIGIN 18th century: from the French: flibustier, first applied to pirates who pillaged the Spanish colonies in the West Indies, influenced by Spanish: filibustero, denoting American adventurers who incited revolution in Latin America; ultimately from Dutch: vrijbuiter, 'freebooter', who cruised from Tortuga off the north coast of Saint-Domingue (modern day Haiti) during the 1650s." "filibuster". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
