from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Pirate \Pi"rate\, n. [L. pirata, Gr. ?, fr. ? to attempt,
undertake, from making attempts or attacks on ships, ? an
attempt, trial; akin to E. peril: cf. F. pirate. See
{Peril}.]
1. A robber on the high seas; one who by open violence takes
the property of another on the high seas; especially, one
who makes it his business to cruise for robbery or
plunder; a freebooter on the seas; also, one who steals in
a harbor.
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2. An armed ship or vessel which sails without a legal
commission, for the purpose of plundering other vessels on
the high seas.
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3. One who infringes the law of copyright, or publishes the
work of an author without permission.
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{Pirate perch} (Zool.), a fresh-water percoid fish of the
United States ({Aphredoderus Sayanus}). It is of a dark
olive color, speckled with blackish spots.
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