Hypertext Webster Gateway: "privateer"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Privateer \Pri`va*teer"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Privateered}; p.
pr. & vb. n. {Privateering}.]
To cruise in a privateer.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Privateer \Pri`va*teer"\, n. [From {Private}.]
1. An armed private vessel which bears the commission of the
sovereign power to cruise against the enemy. See {Letters
of marque}, under {Marque}.
2. The commander of a privateer.
Kidd soon threw off the character of a privateer and
became a pirate. --Macaulay.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
privateer
n 1: an officer or crew member of a privateer [syn: {privateersman}]
2: a privately owned warship commissioned to prey on the
commercial shipping or warships of an enemy nation
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