n. & v.
n. 1 a a person who commits piracy. b a ship used by pirates. 2 a person who infringes another's copyright or other business rights; a plagiarist. 3 (often attrib.) a person, organization, etc., that broadcasts without official authorization (pirate radio station).
v.tr. 1 appropriate or reproduce (the work or ideas etc. of another) without permission, for one's own benefit. 2 plunder. piratic adj. piratical adj. piratically adv.
[ ME f. L pirata f. Gk peirates f. peirao attempt, assault ]