Noun: privateer ,prI-vu'teer
- A privately owned warship commissioned to prey on the commercial shipping or warships of an enemy nation
"The privateer successfully captured several enemy merchant vessels"
- An officer or crew member of a privateer
"The privateer hoped to capture enemy merchant ships";
- privateersman [archaic]
Derived forms: privateers
Type of: combat ship, crew member, officer, ship's officer, war vessel, warship
Encyclopedia: Privateer, South Carolina