Pyrates

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Engaging in acts of robbery at sea, often targeting merchant vessels as part of a seafaring life dedicated to illegal plunder
2. Referring to individuals who live by the unlawful seizure of ships, especially in the context of historical naval warfare
3. Characterizing those who commit maritime theft and violence, typically operating outside the law and in pursuit of profit on the high seas

Etymology: "Pyrates" is the plural of "pyrate," the older spelling of "pirate," and its story is mostly one of spelling. The noun has passed through Latin "pirata" and Greek "peiratēs," meaning one who attacks or makes an attempt, from "peiran," to attempt. English writers in the late medieval and early modern period often spelled the word with a "y" and a "ye," an orthographic habit that reflected the Greek source more visibly than the modern form does. The plural form you have asked about follows the same pattern: where "pirates" is now standard, "pyrates" was simply the spelling that appeared in older texts. Because the plural is the same word in a different spelling, the meaning and history are identical to those of "pirate."

Synonyms: pirates