About Us
ABOUT THE FREEBOOTERS
The mission of Westchase Krewe of Freebooters is to provide a social, leadership and charitable platform for the benefit of the community that we call home. We are here to deliver support and enhance the local spirit that already makes the Westchase area a great place to live!
"FREEBOOTER"
In the 16th century, when piracy on the high seas was rife in many parts of the world, one of the terms that arose to denote a pirate was the Dutch word vrijbuiter. It comes from vrijbuit ("plunder") and -er ("-er," a suffix indicating one engaged in the action). Therefore, a vrijbuiter was a "plunderer."
Vrijbuit itself consists of two parts: vrij ("free") and buit ("booty"), the booty being free, of course, because it was taken by force. The core of the word lies in buit, which is based on the verb buiten ("to plunder").
English speakers, hearing the Dutch word vrijbuiter, soon reshaped it by folk etymology into constituent parts more familiar to them. Vrij became "free," buit became "boot"(conceived either as footwear or as short for booty), and -er needed no change. Result: Freebooter - A pirate or piratical adventurer, literally a free booty'er.
FREEBOOTER COSTUME
- MEN - BLUE VEST EMBROIDERED WITH KREWE LOGO
- WOMEN - BLUE BODICE OR CORSET DRESS
- WHITE SHIRT/TOP
- BLACK PANTS/SKIRT BOTTOM