letter of marque

American  

Also letters of marque

noun

1. license or commission granted by a state to a private citizen to capture and confiscate the merchant ships of another nation.

---

letter of marque British  

noun

1. a licence granted by a state to a private citizen to arm a ship and seize merchant vessels of another nation

2. 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

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

She held in her hand a letter, to which she seemed to cling as a credential—a sort of letter of marque, so to speak.

From When Ghost Meets Ghost by De Morgan, William Frend

"Rather be a letter of marque, in fact, than a ship-of-the-line,—more credit to your Lordship's love of danger than discipline."

From The Knight Of Gwynne, Vol. II (of II) by Lever, Charles James