privateersman

[ prahy-vuh-teerz-muhn ]

/ ˌpraɪ vəˈtɪərz mən /

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noun, plural pri·va·teers·men.

an officer or sailor of a privateer.

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The rainy weather could not ________ my elated spirits on my graduation day.

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Origin of privateersman

An Americanism dating back to 1770–80; privateer + 's¹ + -man

Captain William Wanton, of Portsmouth, took out a commission as privateersman and brought in several valuable prizes.
A short history of Rhode Island|George Washington Greene
The privateersman sprang into the boat, shoved it off, and pulled in the direction from which the appeal came.
Within The Enemy's Lines|Oliver Optic
"I hope he did not do that," said the privateersman, with a good deal more energy than the other thought the occasion warranted.
Within The Enemy's Lines|Oliver Optic
But the privateersman suddenly fell upon him, and both of them went down.
Within The Enemy's Lines|Oliver Optic

"An excellent simile, Captain Passford, and I could not have invented a better myself," returned the privateersman.
Stand By The Union|Oliver Optic