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.
2. An armed ship or vessel which sails without a legal commission, for the purpose of plundering other vessels on the high seas.
3. One who infringes the law of copyright, or publishes the work of an author without permission. Pirate perch (Zoöl.), a fresh-water percoid fish of the United States (Aphredoderus Sayanus). It is of a dark olive color, speckled with blackish spots.
PIRATE
Pi"rate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pirated; p. pr. & vb. n. Pirating.]
Etym: [Cf. F. pirater.]
Defn: To play the pirate; to practice robbery on the high seas.
PIRATE
Pi"rate, v. t.
Defn: To publish, as books or writings, without the permission of the
author.
They advertised they would pirate his edition. Pope.
PIRATIC
Pi*rat"ic, a.
Defn: Piratical.
PIRATICAL
Pi*rat"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. piraticus, Gr. piratique.]