Privateer (noun)

A person who engages in piracy or unauthorized attacks on ships of a nation at war, under a commission or letter of marque from a government.

Origin:

From the old french word privateur, meaning 'one who captures', from latin privatus 'private' + -ator, a suffix forming nouns from verbs.

Examples:

1. During the colonial era, privateers were hired by the British government to attack French ships and disrupt their trade.
2. The privateer was known for his daring raids on Spanish merchant ships in the Caribbean.
3. The privateer's ship was equipped with cannons and was used to attack enemy vessels.
4. The privateer's letter of marque allowed him to legally engage in acts of piracy against enemy ships.
5. The privateer's reputation as a ruthless and successful pirate made him feared by merchants on the high seas.