privateer Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an officer or crew member of a privateer
    privateersman.
  2. noun a privately owned warship commissioned to prey on the commercial shipping or warships of an enemy nation

WordNet

Pri`va*teer" noun
Etymology
From Private.
Definitions
  1. An armed private vessel which bears the commission of the sovereign power to cruise against the enemy. See Letters of marque, under Marque.
  2. The commander of a privateer.
    Kidd soon threw off the character of a privateer and became a pirate. Macaulay.
Pri`va*teer" intransitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Privateered ; present participle & verbal noun Privateering
Definitions
  1. To cruise in a privateer.

Webster 1913