R ˈkȯrˌsa(a)(ə)r, -se(ə)r; - R ˈkȯ(ə)ˌsa(a)]ə, -se]ə, +V “ or ](ə)r\ noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French & Old Italian; Middle French corsaire pirate, from Old Provençal corsari, from Old Italian corsaro, corsare, corsale, from Medieval Latin cursarius, from Latin cursus course + -arius -ary — more at course
1. : a privateer of the coast of the Barbary States authorized by his government to prey upon the commerce and harry the shores of Christian nations
2. : a pirate of any kind or period
3. : a California rockfish ( Sebastomus rosaceus )
4. : any of several large nocturnal reduviid bugs not normally bloodsuckers but capable of inflicting an extremely painful bite