the ship was captured by freebooters who were looking for gold
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After Columbus’s first footfall in the New World, Cuba fell prey to every manner of European freebooter.—Jon Lee Anderson, Foreign Affairs, 14 Dec. 2021 There is widespread, cross-partisan public support for finally clamping down on these corporate freebooters.—Prem Thakker, The New Republic, 23 Feb. 2023 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
Word History
Etymology
by folk etymology from Dutch vrijbuiter, from vrijbuit plunder, from vrij free + buit booty
partial translation (influenced by English booty) of Dutch vrijbuiter "one who robs people openly and with force," from vrijbuit "plundering," from vrij "free" and buit "stolen property, booty" — related to filibuster see Word History at filibuster
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