free booters
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Lawless robbers and plunderers: originally soldiers who served without pay, for the privilege of plundering the enemy.
Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “free booters” mean?
Lawless robbers and plunderers: originally soldiers who served without pay, for the privilege of plundering the enemy.
Is “free booters” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.