Privateer definition

prīvə-tîr
privateers
See word origin
Frequency:
The commander or one of the crew of such a ship.
noun
2
0
A privately owned and manned armed ship commissioned by a government in a war to attack and capture enemy ships, esp. merchant ships.
noun
2
0
A commander or crew member of a privateer.
noun
2
0
To sail as a privateer.
verb
2
1
A ship privately owned and crewed but authorized by a government during wartime to attack and capture enemy vessels.
noun
1
0
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To sail as a privateer.
verb
1
0
(nautical) A privately owned warship that had official sanction to attack enemy ships and take possession of their cargo.
noun
0
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An officer or any other member of the crew of such a ship.
noun
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(motor racing) A private individual entrant into a race or competition who does not have the backing of a large, professional team.
noun
0
0
To function under official sanction permitting attacks on enemy shipping and seizing ship and cargo; to engage in government-sponsored piracy.
verb
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0
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Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
privateer
Plural:
privateers

Origin of privateer

Privateer Sentence Examples

  • It was captured and plundered in 1 595 by the English privateer James Lancaster.

  • On his voyage he was captured by a French privateer.

  • On the way there they captured in the port of Achin a French privateer ready to cruise in the South China Sea.

  • During a stormy night on 5 February 1801 AMELIA captured the French privateer brig LA JUSTE of St. Malo.

  • The third Defender was a French privateer lugger, captured in the same year.

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Related articles

Words near privateer in the Dictionary