Lexic.us

Definition of Privateer

1. Noun. An officer or crew member of a privateer.

2. Noun. A privately owned warship commissioned to prey on the commercial shipping or warships of an enemy nation.

Definition of Privateer

1. n. An armed private vessel which bears the commission of the sovereign power to cruise against the enemy. See Letters of marque, under Marque.

2. v. i. To cruise in a privateer.

Definition of Privateer

1. Noun. (nautical) A privately owned warship that had official sanction to attack enemy ships and take possession of their cargo. ¹

2. Noun. An officer or any other member of the crew of such a ship. ¹

3. Noun. (motor racing) A private individual entrant into a race or competition who does not have the backing of a large, professional team. ¹

4. Verb. To function under official sanction permitting attacks on enemy shipping and seizing ship and cargo; to engage in government-sponsored piracy. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Privateer

1. [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Privateer

private judgment private key private law private limited liability company private line private nuisance private property private road private school private schools

private sector private sectors private security force private treaty privateer (current term) privateered privateering privateers privateersman privately

privately held privately held corporation privateness privatenesses privater privatest privation privations

Literary usage of Privateer

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Gentleman's Magazine (1748)
"A privateer of great force, taken by Aden. Warren. IA Dutch (hip, from Bourdeaux to Dunkirk, with bale goods and (pices, and a French (loop from Cape ..."

2. Poems of American History by Burton Egbert Stevenson (1908)
"THE YANKEE privateer [July, ... We sailed and we sailed And made good cheer, There were many pretty men On the Yankee privateer. ..."

3. History of the Late War, Between the United States and Great Britain by Henry Marie Brackenridge (1839)
"Captain Reid, of the privateer, discovering by the light of the moon that the enemy had put out their boats and were preparing to attack him, ..."

4. History of the Late War Between the United States and Great Britain by Henry Marie Brackenridge (1844)
"Captain Reid, of the privateer, discovering by the light of the moon that the enemy had put out their boats and were preparing to attack him, ..."

5. The Rebellion Record: A Diary of American Events, with Documents, Narratives by Frank Moore, Edward Everett (1862)
"The officers and crew, numbering in all twenty-two persons, wore taken on board the privateer, the vessel fired and holes bored in her sides and bottom. ..."

6. A History of the People of the United States: From the Revolution to the by John Bach McMaster (1885)
"The Betsy was, he knew, a British privateer, and he at once complained to the Governor. ... They bade the people come and see a British privateer destroyed. ..."

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