Pi"rate (?), n. [L. pirata, Gr. , fr. to attempt, undertake, from making attempts or attacks on ships, an attempt, trial; akin to E. peril: cf. F. pirate. See Peril.]
1.
A robber on the high seas; one who by open violence takes the property of another on the high seas; especially, one who makes it his business to cruise for robbery or plunder; a freebooter on the seas; also, one who steals in a harbor.
2.
An armed ship or vessel which sails without a legal commission, for the purpose of plundering other vessels on the high seas.
3.
One who infringes the law of copyright, or publishes the work of an author without permission.
Pirate perch Zool., a fresh-water percoid fish of the United States (Aphredoderus Sayanus). It is of a dark olive color, speckled with blackish spots.
© Webster 1913.
Pi"rate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pirated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Pirating.] [Cf. F. pirater.]
To play the pirate; to practice robbery on the high seas.
© Webster 1913.
Pi"rate, v. t.
To publish, as books or writings, without the permission of the author.
<-- or other copyrighted material; see also the similar "knock off", to manufacture an object with a brand name, without permission of the brand owner, and usually of inferior quality -->
They advertised they would pirate his edition.
Pope.
© Webster 1913.