Privateer
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States · John Bouvier · 1839
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States
warz,:is a vessel owned by one or by a society of private individuals, armed and equipped at his or their.expense, for the pur-. ose of carrying on a maritime war, by the authority of one of the. belligerent parties. For the purpose of - encouraging the owners of private armed vessels, they are usually allowed to appropriate to themselves the property they capture, or, at least, a large proportion of it.
1 Kent, Com. 96; Poth. Du Dr. de Propr. n. 90, et seq.