free·boot·er (frē'bōō'tər) n. A person who pillages and plunders, especially a pirate.
[Dutch vrijbuiter, from vrijbuit, plunder : vrij, free; see prī- in Indo-European roots + buit, booty (from Middle Dutch būte, of Middle Low German origin).]
1570, from Du. vrijbuiter, from vrijbuiten "to rob, plunder," from vrijbuit "plunder," lit. "free booty," from vrij "free" + buit "booty," from buiten "to exchange or plunder," from M.Du. buten.