filibuster
UK[ˈfɪlɪbʌstə]US[ˈfɪlɪˌbʌstər]
n
the use of long speeches and other tactics to delay or prevent a legislative vote or decision.
v
to obstruct legislation by making long speeches or introducing irrelevant issues.
Morpheme Breakdown
fili
buster
fili
free
buster
one who breaks
Etymology
the word 'filibuster' has a circuitous history, beginning with the dutch term for pirate, 'vrijbuiter' (freebooter). this entered spanish as 'filibustero', referring to pirates who plundered spanish colonies in the west indies. in the 19th century, american english adopted it to label adventurers who engaged in unauthorized military expeditions. the term's meaning then shifted metaphorically to the political arena, likening the tactic of legislative obstruction to the disruptive, law-breaking actions of a pirate. the modern sense of using prolonged speech to 'break' or 'hijack' the legislative process solidified in the u.s. congress during the 1850s.
Analysis
Structure: fili (free) + buster (one who breaks)
'fili' originates from the spanish 'filibustero', itself derived from the dutch 'vrijbuiter' (freebooter), with the root 'vrij' meaning 'free'. 'buster' is an english agent noun suffix meaning 'one who breaks or obstructs'.
Examples
the senator staged a 12-hour filibuster to block the bill's passage.
the opposition party threatened to filibuster the controversial nomination.
the new rules were designed to make it harder to launch a filibuster.