letter of marque

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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Also letters of marque.
Also called letter of marque and reprisal, letters of marque and reprisal.

Origin of letter of marque

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50

Words nearby letter of marque

letter of attorney, letter of comfort, letter of credit, letter of intent, letter of introduction, letter of marque, letter of the law, letter ruling, letter stock, letter-card, letter-high
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for letter of marque

British Dictionary definitions 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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012