mooncusser en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
Etymology
From moon + cusser: the strategy would not work on a moonlit night, so the would-be pirate might be expected to curse the Moon.
Meanings
- (historical, humorous, uncommon) A land-based pirate who, on dark nights along dangerous coasts, would demolish any legitimate lighthouses or beacons, erect a decoy signal fire in a different, deliberately misleading location, and then, after having induced a shipwreck, subdue any survivors and plunder the wreckage for valuables.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| mooncussers | Number=Plur | lexicographic |