pirate

Where does the word "pirate" come from? It comes from Greek peiratēs, passing through Latin before entering English (1400s).

Pirate’s story begins in Greek: peiratēs meant “attacker, brigand.” From 'peiran', to attempt or attack. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as pirata. Cilician pirates famously captured the young Julius Caesar. It reached English by 1400s as pirate. 'pirated' copies of books date from the 1700s. Today, pirate means a person who robs ships at sea; to copy without permission.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient peiratēs "attacker, brigand", from 'peiran', to attempt or attack.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient pirata "sea robber", Cilician pirates famously captured the young Julius Caesar.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s pirate "a sea robber", 'pirated' copies of books date from the 1700s.