| 词汇 | privateer |
| 词源 | privateer. Privateers operate with the consent of a govern- ment, usually their own. Privateers were privately owned ves- sels that in England were licensed under Letter of Marque and Reprisal to capture enemy ships in time of war. A captain who had such authorization would not be charged with piracy. Per- haps the most famous privateer in history was the British Sir Francis Drake, who preyed on Spanish shipping in the 16th century as captain of the Golden Hind. See corsair. |
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