reprisal : Idioms & Phrases


letter of mark and reprisal

  • noun a license to a private citizen to seize property of another nation
    letters of marque; letter of marque.
WordNet

Letters of marque, Letters of marque and reprisal

  • a license or extraordinary commission granted by a government to a private person to fit out a privateer or armed ship to cruise at sea and make prize of the enemy's ships and merchandise. The ship so commissioned is sometimes called a letter of marque.
Webster 1913

Letters of marque and reprisal

  • . See under Marque.
Webster 1913