letter of marque
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noun
license or commission granted by a state to a private citizen to capture and confiscate the merchant ships of another nation.
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Nearby words
- letter of attorney,
- letter of comfort,
- letter of credit,
- letter of intent,
- letter of introduction,
- letter of the law,
- letter ruling,
- letter stock,
- letter-card,
- letter-high
Also letters of marque.
Origin of letter of marque
late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50
Also called letter of marque and reprisal, letters of marque and reprisal.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for letter of marque
letter of marque
letters of marque
noun
a licence granted by a state to a private citizen to arm a ship and seize merchant vessels of another nation
a similar licence issued by a nation allowing a private citizen to seize goods or citizens of another nation
Also called: letter of marque and reprisal
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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