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Entry 3 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913

Privateer

/(prī`vȧ*tēr")/ · Pri·va·teer · IPA /ˌpɹaɪ.vəˈtɪɚ/
01 n. An armed private vessel which bears the commission of the sovereign power to cruise against the enemy. See Letters of marque, under Marque.
  1. 1.
    An armed private vessel which bears the commission of the sovereign power to cruise against the enemy. See Letters of marque, under Marque. See: Marque
  2. 2.
    The commander of a privateer.
    “Kidd soon threw off the character of a privateer and became a pirate.” — Macaulay.
02 v. i. To cruise in a privateer.
imp. & p. p. Privateered; p. pr. & vb. n. Privateering
  1. 1.
    To cruise in a privateer.