Filiation

[Fr.] Act of filiating or affiliating, particularly, the fixing of a bastard child on some one as its father; adoption. The relation of a child to a father; -correlative to PATERNITY, q. v. Fil'ibuster, (sometimes erroneously written fillibus ter,) n. [Sp.; Fr. flibustier , perhaps a corruption from the Eng. freebooter.] A sea-rover; a pirate; a corsair; a freebooter; a buccaneer; - sometimes applied to any military adventurer who undertakes an expedition against a territory, unauthorized by law or the exigencies of war. ( Amer . Hist .) The term F. , now used in any country where the English language is spoken, was first applied in New Orleans to certain adventurers who, after the termination of the war between this country and Mexico, exerted themselves with setting on foot within the U. States, military expeditions designed to operate in the Spanish-American countries to the south of us. The pretended object of these expeditions was the emancipation of those countries from tyranny, foreign or domestic, and the introduction of democratic institutions after the model of the U. States; but their real object undoubtedly was their own aggrandizement, by re-enacting the part of the original Spanish conqueror. Though the setting on foot of such expeditions is contrary to our neutrality laws, yet, as they enjoyed a considerable degree of popularity, especially in Mobile and New Orleans, the laws were frequently evaded. The most noted expedition of this sort was that led by William Walker against Nicaragua in 1855, who succeeded in maintaining himself in that country for nearly two years; but was at length expelled by the union against him of the other Central American States. Walker was subsequently taken and shot at Truxillo, while engaged in another similar expedition. Filibuster, v. a. To perform the acts of a filibuster. Filibustering, pp . or a. A cant word, much used some years ago in our legislative a emblies to designate the employment of parliamentary tactics to defeat a measure, by raising frivolous questions of order, calls of the house, motions to adjourn, ., in order to weary out the opposite party and to gain time. Filibusterism, n . Piracy; predatory action; course of conduct pursued by a filibuster or freebooter. Fil'ical, a. Pertaining to the Filicales , or Ferns. To file with , to follow close upon the heels of another; Fil'ices, n . pl . [Lat. pl. of filiz , a fern.] See FILICALES. to keep up with. "My endeavors have ever... filed with my abilities." - Shaks.