6 entries found for pirate.
pi?rate
n.

1.
1. One who robs at sea or plunders the land from the sea without commission from a sovereign nation.
2. A ship used for this purpose.
2. One who preys on others; a plunderer.
3. One who makes use of or reproduces the work of another without authorization.
4. One that operates an unlicensed, illegal television or radio station.


v. pi?rat?ed, pi?rat?ing, pi?rates
v. tr.

1. To attack and rob (a ship at sea).
2. To take (something) by piracy.
3. To make use of or reproduce (another's work) without authorization.


v. intr.

To act as a pirate; practice piracy.


[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin prta, from Greek peirts, from peirn, to attempt, from peira, trial. See per-3 in Indo-European Roots.]pi?ratic (p-rtk) or pi?rati?cal (--kl) adj.
pi?rati?cal?ly adv.

From Miriam-Webster's Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin pirata, from Greek peirates, from peiran to attempt -- more at FEAR