noun
- a privately owned armed ship commissioned by a government to attack enemy vessels during wartime
Usage: historical; nautical
Examples
- The privater sailed under a letter of marque from the colonial government.
- During the War of 1812, many privaters harassed British merchant ships.
- The captain converted his merchant vessel into a privater to serve his country.
- Privaters were legal under international law, unlike pirates.
- The successful privater returned to port with valuable captured cargo.