piracy（n.）
15世纪初，“在海上抢劫，即在高海上抢劫的行为”，源自中世纪拉丁语 piratia，源自古典拉丁语、希腊语 peirateia “海盗”，源自 peiratēs “强盗，海盗”（参见 pirate（名词））。
Specifically, in the law of nations, the crime of depredations or wilful and aggressive destruction of life or property committed on the seas by persons having no commission or authority from any established state. As commonly used it implies something more than a simple theft with violence at sea, and includes something of the idea of general hostility to law. According to the opinion of some, it implies only unlawful interference with a vessel ; according to others, it includes also depredations on the coast by a force landing from the sea. [Century Dictionary]
具体来说，在 aw of nations 中，指的是在海上由没有任何建立国家的委托或授权的人犯下的掠夺或故意侵犯生命或财产的犯罪行为。通常使用时，它意味着不仅仅是在海上进行带有暴力的简单盗窃，还包含了对法律的普遍敌意的概念。根据一些人的观点，它仅仅意味着对船只的非法干扰； 而根据其他人的观点，它还包括由从海上登陆的武装力量对海岸的掠夺行为。[世纪词典]
该词起源时间：15世纪初