privateer

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“
The chart of the harbour of St Pierre's lay on the table, and O'Brien said, "I have had a long conversation with the American, and he states that the privateer is at anchor in this spot" (pointing to a pencil-mark on the chart).

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Definitions (10)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (3)

  1. noun A ship privately owned and crewed but authorized by a government during wartime to attack and capture enemy vessels.
  2. noun The commander or one of the crew of such a ship.
  3. intransitive verb To sail as a privateer.

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Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (2)

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Examples (50)

  • The top finishing privateer will be awarded a new 2007 Weekend Warrior Supercross Edition trailer courtesy of Giant RV and $25,000 from US Smokeless Tobacco Company. —  Motorsport.com: SUPERCROSS news
  • Thus he became a privateer, and for the next twelve years he built a reputation as the scourge of the high seas. —  Conservapedia - Recent changes [en]
  • On the other hand, a privateer is an entirely different kettle of fish. —  EagleSpeak
  • A privateer was a private warship authorized by a country's government by letters of marque to attack foreign shipping. —  EagleSpeak
  • Strictly, a privateer was only entitled by its state to attack and rob enemy vessels during wartime. —  EagleSpeak
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/praɪvəˈtir/
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