Etymology of the English word corsair
the English word
corsairderived from the Old French word
corsairederived from the Old Provençal word
corsariderived from the Old Italian word
corsaroderived from the Latin word
cursariusderived from the Medieval Latin word
cursus (course, direction, line of advance; lesson; running; speed, zeal)
derived from the Medieval Latin word
currere (run, trot, gallop)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*kers-Date
The earliest known usage of corsair in English dates from the 15th century.
Cognates
French
corsaire, German
Korsar, Norwegian
korsar, Spanish
corsario, Swedish
korsarUsage
Word found in Modern English
