fil|i|bus|ter

fil|i|bus|ter «FIHL uh _BUHS tuhr», noun, verb.

–n.

1. U.S. a) the act or process of deliberately hindering the passage of a bill in a legislature by long speeches or other means of delay: »

There was a three-hours' filibuster against the Civil Service Clause (E. F. Wyatt).

b) a member of a legislature who deliberately hinders the passage of a bill by long speeches or other means of delay. c) any hindering by delaying actions or speeches: »

A male stockholder told [him] that by repeatedly calling upon certain predictable filibusterers in the room he was in effect conducting a filibuster himself (New Yorker).

2. any person, especially a citizen of the United States, who unlawfully initiated or supported a revolt against South American and Central American governments during the 1800's in order to enrich himself.

3. a person who fights against another country without the authorization of his government; a freebooter.

–v.i.

1. U.S. to deliberately hinder the passage of a bill by long speeches or other means of delay.

2. to hinder progress by delaying actions or speeches: »

It figured that he'd stay in there filibustering for Morris's book (Saturday Review).

3. to act as a filibuster or freebooter; fight against another country without the authorization of one's government.

–v.t.

to deliberately hinder the passage of (a bill) by long speeches or other means of delay: »

Many House members are in a churlish mood, having passed last year's bill…only to see the Senate filibuster it to death (New York Times).

╂[< Spanish filibustero, perhaps < French flibustier < Dutch vrijbuiter. See etym. of doublet freebooter. (Cf. ↑freebooter)]

–fil´i|bus´ter|er, noun.