letter of marque
Americannoun
noun
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a licence granted by a state to a private citizen to arm a ship and seize merchant vessels of another nation
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a similar licence issued by a nation allowing a private citizen to seize goods or citizens of another nation
Etymology
Origin of letter of marque
late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As England, France, Holland and Spain alternately warred and wooed one another in a diplomatic cotillion, you could choose to privateer with an official letter of marque or simply attack everything that sailed.
From New York Times ● Oct. 11, 2010
“She’s a letter of marque ship,” Hab said.
From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham
“The Astrea mounts nineteen guns, Captain Prince. If any of your crew has ever shipped on a privateer or a letter of marque ship they—ah—might be useful.”
From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham
The plan finally formed was that Kidd with a privateer furnished with a letter of marque and a special commission from the King should cruise about in search of the pirates and capture them.
From Dutch and English on the Hudson A Chronicle of Colonial New York by Goodwin, Maud Wilder
The accompanying note I sent to M. Van der Hoop, Fiscal of the Admiralty of Amsterdam, in consequence of the request presented at Amsterdam by the agents of an American letter of marque.
From The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. IX by Sparks, Jared
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
