Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Piracy
1.
The act or crime of a pirate.
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.
☞ 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.
Webster 1828 Edition
Piracy
PI'RACY
,Noun.
1.
The act, practice or crime of robbing on the high seas; the taking of property from others by open violence and without authority, on the sea; a crime that answers to robbery on land.Other acts than robbery on the high seas, are declared by statute to be piracy. See Act of Congress, April 30, 1790.
2.
The robbing of another by taking his writings.