privateer

English

Etymology

From private +‎ -eer, on the model of volunteer.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˌpɹaɪvəˈtɪə/
• (US) IPA: /ˌpɹaɪvəˈtɪəɹ/
• Rhymes: -ɪə(ɹ)

Noun

Wikipedia privateer (plural privateers)

1. (nautical) A privately owned warship that had official sanction to attack enemy ships and take possession of their cargo.
2. An officer or any other member of the crew of such a ship.
3. (motor racing) A private individual entrant into a race or competition who does not have the backing of a large, professional team.

Translations

A privately owned warship

• Finnish: kaapparilaiva (fi)
• Italian: nave corsara f

• Portuguese: navio corsário m

An officer or crew of a privateer ship

• Dutch: kaper (nl) m
• Finnish: merirosvo (fi), kaappari (fi)
• French: corsaire (fr) m
• Italian: corsaro (it) m

• Jèrriais: cap'taine à la course m
• Portuguese: corsário m
• Spanish: corsario (es) m

Motor racing: Private individual entrant

See also

• (motor racing): works team

Verb

privateer (third-person singular simple present privateers, present participle privateering, simple past and past participle privateered)

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

See also

• letter of marque