piracy

n.; pl. Piracies [ Cf. LL. piratia, Gr. &unr_;. See Pirate. ] 1. The act or crime of a pirate. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Common Law) 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. “Sometimes used, in a quasi-figurative sense, of violation of copyright; but for this, infringement is the correct and preferable term.” Abbott. [ 1913 Webster ]