Pirates

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈpaɪɹəts/

Definitions

1. Sea-based criminals who rob vessels and coastal towns for their belongings
2. Outlaws on the water who seize ships and loot harbors for treasure and goods
3. Individuals who hijack ships at sea for plunder and gain ; persons who illegally copy, reproduce, or distribute copyrighted material

Etymology: The English word for a seaborne robber comes from a Greek verb meaning "to attempt." Ancient Greek "peira" meant a trial or attack, and "peiratēs" was someone who made attempts, a brigand who tried his luck against ships and villages. Latin borrowed the form as "pīrāta," and it passed into English in the Middle Ages through Old French, arriving as "pirate" in Middle English. English already had a native word for these raiders, "wīcing," which also meant "viking." The Old English term was displaced once the Greek-derived word arrived, so the seafaring sense of "pirate" replaced the older vocabulary rather than adding a new meaning to an existing one.

Synonyms: buccaneers, plunderers, raiders

Antonyms: law-abiders