different between buccaneer vs privateer

English

Alternative forms

• bucanier (obsolete)
• buccanier (archaic)

Etymology

From French boucanier, from boucaner (“to smoke or broil meat and fish, to hunt wild beasts for their skins”), from boucan (“(Tupi-style) grill”), from Old Tupi mokaém, bokaém (“wooden grill”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?b?k??n??(?)/
• Rhymes: -??(?)

Noun

buccaneer (plural buccaneers)

1. (nautical) Any of a group of seamen who cruised on their own account on the Spanish Main and in the Pacific in the 17th century, who were similar to pirates but did not prey on ships of their own nation.
2. A pirate.

Synonyms

• privateer, pirate, see also Thesaurus:pirate

Derived terms

• buccaneering
• buccaneerish

Translations

Verb

buccaneer (third-person singular simple present buccaneers, present participle buccaneering, simple past and past participle buccaneered)

1. To engage in piracy against any but one's own nation's ships.
   • 1963, John Day, Arthur Henry Bullen (editor), The Works of John Day, page v

     In 1596 and 1597 he bucaneered against Sao Thomi, the Portuguese slaving settlement off the coast of West Africa, and in the Spanish Main

See also

• Jolly Roger
• skull and crossbones

English

Etymology

From private +? -eer, probably after volunteer.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /p?a?v??t??/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?p?a?v??t???/
• Rhymes: -??(?)

Noun

privateer (plural privateers)

1. (historical) A privately owned warship that had official sanction to attack enemy ships and take possession of their cargo. [from 17th c.]
2. (historical) An officer or any other member of the crew of such a ship. [from 17th c.]
   • [from 17th c.]
3. An advocate or beneficiary of privatization of a government service or activity.
4. (motor racing, chiefly Canada, US) A private individual entrant into a race or competition who does not have the backing of a large, professional team. [from 20th c.]
5. (motorsports, elite championships) A racing team that is not a subsidiary of a large conglomerate, or automotive/vehicle manufacturer.

Translations

See also

• letter of marque
• (motor racing): works team

Verb

privateer (third-person singular simple present privateers, present participle privateering, simple past and past participle privateered)

1. To function under official sanction permitting attacks on enemy shipping and seizing ship and cargo; to engage in government-sponsored piracy. [from 17th c.]
2. To advocate or benefit from privatization of government services.