letter of marque en · NOUN
Meanings
-
(historical) An official commission from a government authorizing someone to seize the property or people of another nation; especially to attack merchant shipping of another nation.
A letter of marque came from the King / to the scummiest vessel I'd ever seen / God damn them all! I was told / We'd cruise the seas for American gold / We'd fire no guns, shed no tears.
1976, Stan Rogers, “Barrett's Privateers”, in Fogarty's Cove:
- (historical) A ship that has been armed for such a task.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| letters of marque | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| letter of mart | alternative | lexicographic |
Relateds
privateer · letter of countermarque
Synonyms
Translations (18)
ca patent de cors (official commission) · es patente de corso (official commission) · pt carta de marca (official commission) · fi kaapparikirja (official commission) · de Kaperbrief (official commission) · sv kaparskepp (ship that has been armed for such a task) · fr lettre de marque (official commission) · nl kaperbrief (official commission) · cmn 私掠許可證 /私掠许可证 (official commission) · ru привати́р (ship that has been armed for such a task) · cmn 私掠船 (ship that has been armed for such a task) · nl kaperschip (ship that has been armed for such a task) · fi kaapparilaiva (ship that has been armed for such a task) · pl kaper (ship that has been armed for such a task) · sv kaparbrev (official commission) · ru ка́перское свиде́тельство (official commission) · pl list kaperski (official commission) · ru ка́пер (ship that has been armed for such a task)