Category:Piracy

Pi"ra*cy, n.; pl. Piracies. Etym: [cf. Ll. piratia, gr. Pirate.]

1. The act or crime of a pirate.

2. (common law)

Defn: robbery on the high seas; the taking of property from others on The open sea by open violence; without lawful authority, and with Intent to steal; -- a crime answering to robbery on land.

Note: by statute law several other offenses committed on the seas (as Trading with known pirates, or engaging in the slave trade) have been Made piracy.

3. "sometimes used, in a quasi-figurative sense, of violation of Copyright; but for this, infringement is the correct and preferable Term." Abbott.