Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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noun
A privately owned warship that acted under a letter of marque to attack enemy merchant ships and take possession of their cargo.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: historical
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
An officer or any other member of the crew of such a ship; a government-sanctioned pirate.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: historical
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
An advocate or beneficiary of privatization of a government service or activity.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A private individual entrant into a race or competition who does not have the backing of a large, professional team.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Australia, Canada, US
Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, motor-racing, racing, sports
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A racing team that is not a subsidiary of a large conglomerate, or automotive or vehicle manufacturer.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: elite championships
Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, motor-racing, racing, sports
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To function under official sanction permitting attacks on enemy shipping and seizing ship and cargo; to engage in government-sponsored piracy.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To advocate or benefit from privatization of government services.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
a privately owned warship commissioned to prey on the commercial shipping or warships of an enemy nation
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: warship, war vessel, combat ship
noun
an officer or crew member of a privateer
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: privateersman
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: crewman, crew member, officer, ship's officer
Narrower terms: Hawkins, Hawkyns, Sir John Hawkins, Sir John Hawkyns
History
From private + -eer probably after volunteer, shortened from the original term "Private Man-of-war".
Across languages
44 source translations are retained for this English entry.
