'Letters of marque' definitions:

Definition of 'letters of marque'

From: WordNet
noun
A license to a private citizen to seize property of another nation [syn: letter of marque, letters of marque, letter of mark and reprisal]

Definition of 'Letters of marque'

From: GCIDE
  • Marque \Marque\, n. [F. marque, in lettre de marque letter of marque, a commission with which the commandant of every armed vessel was obliged to be provided, under penalty of being considered a pirate or corsair; marque here prob. meaning, border, boundary (the letter of marque being a permission to go beyond the border), and of German origin. See March border.] (Law) A license to pass the limits of a jurisdiction, or boundary of a country, for the purpose of making reprisals. [1913 Webster]
  • Letters of marque, Letters of marque and reprisal, a license or extraordinary commission granted by a government to a private person to fit out a privateer or armed ship to cruise at sea and make prize of the enemy's ships and merchandise. The ship so commissioned is sometimes called a letter of marque. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'letters of marque'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Letters of marque'