filibuster

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   A mercenary soldier

   A mercenary soldier; a freebooter; specifically, a mercenary who travelled illegally in an organized group from the United States to a country in Central America or the Spanish West Indies in the mid-19th century seeking economic and political benefits through armed force.

2. 2

   A tactic (such as giving long, often irrelevant speeches) employed to delay the…

   A tactic (such as giving long, often irrelevant speeches) employed to delay the proceedings of, or the making of a decision by, a legislative body, particularly the United States Senate.

   • Then, last month, before the survey was finished and for reasons still unclear, the Democrats abruptly tried to attach a repeal of the law to the defence appropriations bill, a stratagem the Republicans defeated in a filibuster.
   • So now that the Republicans have used the nuclear option to kill the poor filibuster to clear the way for the elevation of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, we can lose perspective.
3. 3

   A member of a legislative body causing such an obstruction.

4. ›+ 2 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To take part in a private military action in a foreign country.

   2. 5

      To use obstructionist tactics in a legislative body.

      • But as the case had dragged on interminably, and he believed, and the world believed, and the Canadians themselves knew, that they intended to filibuster and postpone as long as possible, he took the common-sense way to a settlement.
      • 1901—Senator Carter successfully filibustered a river and harbor bill because it failed to include certain additional appropriations.

The neighborhood

• neighborflibustier
• neighborobstruct
• neighborcloture