letters of marque love

letters of marque

Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun plural A document issued by a government in a time of war allowing private ships to attack the ships and seize the property and citizens of a hostile nation.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a license to a private citizen to seize property of another nation

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English letters of mark, from Old French marque, mark, seizure, reprisal; see marquetry.]

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