A privateering vessel is a type of ship that was used in the past by governments to attack and capture enemy vessels. The term 'PRIVATEER' refers to a privately owned vessel that was authorized by a government to attack enemy ships during wartime. The most common type of privateering vessel was the CORSAIR, which was a fast and maneuverable ship that was armed with cannons and other weapons. Privateers were often used to disrupt enemy trade routes and to capture valuable cargo.