privateering
State-sanctioned sea raiding
Privateering is the practice of privately owned ships attacking enemy vessels under government authorization during wartime.
A privateer carried a letter of marque—official permission to raid enemy shipping and keep a share of captured goods.
Distinguished from piracy by this legal sanction, privateering was effectively state-sponsored piracy: American privateers harassed British merchant ships during the Revolutionary War.
The practice was largely abolished by international agreement in the 19th century.
Pirate or pirate ship
- freebooterMaritime plunderer seeking booty
- buccaneerCaribbean colonial-era pirate
- raiderOne who attacks suddenly
- marauderOne who raids for loot
captain · shipmaster · crew · mariner · seafarer · adventurer · filibuster
Medium-sized naval warship
- sloopOne-masted fore-and-aft rigger
- brigantineTwo-masted mixed-rig vessel
- schoonerMulti-masted sailing craft
- cutterOne who severs
galleon · man-of-war · merchantman · tender · lugger · barque · pinnace · caravel
Sudden attack for plunder
- plunderingForcible taking of goods
- interceptionSeizing something in transit
- boardingEntering a vehicle
- chaseRapid following of quarry
ambush · cruising · patrolling · smuggling · prize-taking · engagement · harassment
Reward for winning
- spoilsSeized war gains
- bootyStolen valuables, especially treasure
- treasureValued wealth or keepsake
- cargoTransported goods
contraband · loot · ransom · valuables · gold · silver · merchandise · bounty
Payment for services rendered
- admiraltyLaw of the seas
- requisitionFormal order for supplies
- authorizationFormal permission granted
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
warrant · license · legitimacy · condemnation · adjudication · capture · seizure · reprisal
corsair
Pirate or pirate ship
- freebooterMaritime plunderer seeking booty
- buccaneerCaribbean colonial-era pirate
- raiderOne who attacks suddenly
marauder · captain · shipmaster · crew · mariner · seafarer · adventurer · filibuster
frigate
Medium-sized naval warship
- sloopOne-masted fore-and-aft rigger
- brigantineTwo-masted mixed-rig vessel
- schoonerMulti-masted sailing craft
cutter · galleon · man-of-war · merchantman · tender · lugger · barque · pinnace · caravel
raiding
Sudden attack for plunder
- plunderingForcible taking of goods
- interceptionSeizing something in transit
- boardingEntering a vehicle
chase · ambush · cruising · patrolling · smuggling · prize-taking · engagement · harassment
prize
Reward for winning
cargo · contraband · loot · ransom · valuables · gold · silver · merchandise · bounty · seizure
commission
Payment for services rendered
- admiraltyLaw of the seas
- requisitionFormal order for supplies
- authorizationFormal permission granted
sanction · warrant · license · legitimacy · condemnation · adjudication · capture · seizure · reprisal
Drake
Adult male duck
- maritimeships, ship, boat, boats, anchors
- maritime historysailors, ships, seamen, sailing ships, celestial navigation
- seafaringship, sailors, ships, sail, sailor
- Caribbean piratespirates, buccaneers, Blackbeard, Henry Morgan, Port Royal
- plunderlooting, loot, booty, pillaging, spoils
- Age of Sailgalleons, ships, sea voyages, naval expeditions, sea battles
privateeringmerchant shipping
Commercial maritime freight transport
maritime trade · cargo transport · fishing · coastal defense
private, privacy, privately, privation, privateer, privates, privatization, privatized, privatize