What is another word for letters of marque?
Pronunciation: [lˈɛtəz ɒv mˈɑːk] (IPA) 
Letters of marque were a type of government document issued in the past to private naval vessels, giving them the right to capture and plunder enemy ships during times of war. Synonyms for letters of marque include "letters of reprisal," which granted permission to retaliate against a nation that had previously attacked one's own ship or crew. "Privateering" was another term often used to describe the activity licensed by letters of marque. In modern times, this practice has largely disappeared, but the phrase "private military contracting" has taken its place to describe the hiring of private military personnel by governments and corporations.
