The Piratical History of 'Filibuster'

The filibuster has achieved a greater degree of familiarity for many than one might imagine for a word that commonly carries the meaning of ‘dilatory legislative technique.’ In fact, one might imagine that many people are rather tired of hearing about the filibuster, or would even go so far as to say that they wish they’d never heard of it. If you fall into either of these camps this may not be the article for you. If, however, you find yourself quietly musing to yourself ‘I wonder what I don’t yet know about the filibuster,’ then you are most certainly in the right place.

Avast, ye senators

The History of 'Filibuster'

Before taking on its current meaning (“the use of extreme dilatory tactics, as by making long speeches, in an attempt to delay or prevent action especially in a legislative assembly”) the word filibuster referred to an irregular military adventurer—specifically to “an American engaged in fomenting insurrections in Latin America in the mid-19th century.” The word came to English in the 1840s from the Spanish filibustero, which literally means “freebooter”—that is, a pirate or plunderer. Although it likely originated from the Dutch vrijbuiter, filibuster is thought to have arrived in Spanish from the French flibustier, which itself came from the English freebooter or fleebooter.

For his recent exploit before Tabasco, the Vera Cruz papers denounced him as a filibuster. We apprehend they will have to invent a bigger word to characterize his future operations.
— Louisville Morning Courier (Louisville, KY), 21 Dec. 1846

The fashionable word for the members of the late Expedition to Cuba, is filibuster—the Anglicised filibustero of the Spaniards. Terms, bestowed in reproach, are often accepted as compliments by those to whom they are applied.
– New Orleans Weekly Delta, 24 Jun. 1850

Accordingly, a band of “Filibusters” descended upon the Peninsula, and, in the language of an American officer in his report to the Government, “their track was marked by pillage, conflagration and murder.”
— New York Daily Tribune, 6 Jun. 1851

Shortly after its appearance in English the word moved from the military to the political realm, as a verb carrying the meaning of “to engage in dilatory tactics (as by giving speeches) in an attempt to prevent action in a legislative or deliberative assembly.”

With the office-seeking legions crowding the galleries as claqueurs, it may be well for the Giant to make his Filibustering speech twice or thrice more.
— _New York Daily Tribune, 17 Mar. 1853

The republicans threaten a resort to filibustering (that is, Parliamentary delays,) if they are to be cut off from a discussion of the subject.
— Baltimore Sun, 29 Apr. 1858

Reliable information has been received showing that no difficulty exists in the consummation of the cession of the Bay Islands to the Republic of Honduras. But the transfer has been delayed by the filibustering attempts of Walker.
— The Sun (Baltimore, MD), 26 Sept. 1860

There is nothing left of the Senator from Michigan, whose course during the present session has disappointed all. A large number of his own party are disgusted by it, and wonder when he will cease offering his resolutions and making filibustering speeches.
— Daily Courier (Louisville, KY), 24 Jan. 1853

By the 1870s the political sense had become a noun, although in early use it was applied to a person who engaged in long-winded speeches, rather than to the act of speaking itself.

Closing scenes in the Senate. Jacobs as a filibuster in the interest of corruption—bills passed in today’s session.
— (headline) The New York Times, 4 May 1876

Woman suffragists in the Senate. Conkling again attacking the President. Fernando Wood as a filibuster.
— (headline) Hartford Daily Courant, 11 Jan. 1878

The noun sense that is so widely-unloved today came about in the late 1880s. Unsurprisingly enough, the filibuster appears to have irritated many people in the 19th century, much as it does today.

Mr. Oates, of Alabama, the leader of the filibuster against the direct tax bill last session, was seen by an Associated press reporter to whom he explained his position on the matter.
— Columbus Daily Enquirer (Columbus, GA), 4 Dec. 1888

The filibuster is a procedure followed for the purpose of defeating action.
— The Helena Journal (Helena, MT), 10 Dec. 1889

The power of the filibuster will never be broken until the majority of the house is permitted to decide not only when it shall adjourn, but when it shall waste an hour in voting down a motion to adjourn.
— Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR), 7 Jan. 1890

Should any of you ever find yourselves in the position of feeling the need to engage in a bit of filibuster (the talking kind, not the carrying out insurrectionist activities kind), please consider that you may start off eating up everyone’s time by subjecting them to a long-winded history of the word itself.