noun
letter of marque
Historical term for a government license authorizing privateering. Often abbreviated as 私掠免許.
See also: 私掠免許
18世紀には、多くの国が敵国の船を攻撃するために私掠免許状を発行した。
In the 18th century, many countries issued letters of marque to attack enemy ships.
Abbreviated form of 私掠免許状, also meaning 'letter of marque'.
Compound of 私掠 (privateering) + 免許状 (license). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the spelling is conventionally associated with the meaning.