to filibuster
Preserved but no longer current.
In U.S.A. politics, to man- oeuvre to frustrate the passing of a bill. It is based on the right of a member of Congress not to be interrupted so long as he holds the floor of the House. The member may recite or talk about any subject under the sun until the time available for passing the bill is exhausted.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “to filibuster” mean?
In U.S.A. politics, to man- oeuvre to frustrate the passing of a bill. It is based on the right of a member of Congress not to be interrupted so long as he holds the floor of the House. The member may recite or talk about any subject under the sun until the time available for passing the bill is exhausted.
Is “to filibuster” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.