The original name for Pirates was (is) Privateers...........eom

[dotymed]

[el_bryanto]

1. I don't know if that is accurate; rather there are two concurrent phenomena

A Pirate is someone who attacks ships for profit; a Privateer is someone who attacks ships for profit and at the behest of the nation she serves. I'm pretty sure the concept of piracy predates the concept of the nation state.

Bryant

[stevenleser]

2. That is my understanding as well. Edited to add...

In order to be considered a privateer rather than a pirate, a nation had to issue you something called a Letter of Marque. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_of_marque

Interestingly enough, our constitution contains provisions for this. Congress has the power to issue letters of marque and reprisals.

I read an interesting book a few years back that proposed a fictional scenario where the US was attacked and the President wished to resolve the issue peacefully but congress did not and so they issued a letter of marque to a naval carrier group who attacked those who attacked us. Of course this produced a constitutional crisis as well as a crisis in the military chain of command.

Second edit. Here is the book: http://www.amazon.com/Balance-Power-James-W-Huston/dp/0061703206 I bought mine directly from the author and he signed it. Interesting guy.

[SidDithers]

4. You got it...

A privateer had a Letter of Marque, and was protected by the "rules" of war.

A pirate had no such letter and was subject to immediate hanging if captured.

Sid

[rdharma]

3. There is no mention of "privateers" in The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

Are you trying to tell me that Cpt. Mosey was a "privateer"? Really?

[on point]

5. Uh no. Pirates were private parties. Privateers licensed by state

[MisterP]

6. "private" was the same word as "deprive"

(and "Spencer" comes from "dispenser"!)