privateer

English

/pɹaɪvəˈtɪə/, /ˌpɹaɪvəˈtɪəɹ/

noun
Definitions
  • (historical) A privately owned warship that had official sanction to attack enemy ships and take possession of their cargo.
  • (historical) An officer or any other member of the crew of such a ship.
  • An advocate or beneficiary of privatization of a government service or activity.
  • (motor racing) A private individual entrant into a race or competition who does not have the backing of a large, professional team.

Etymology

Suffix from English private.

Origin

English

private

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms