WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Pi"ra*cy
Part of Speech : n.;
Etymology : [Cf. LL. piratia, Gr. Pirate.]
Definition : 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.

pl. Piracies.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913