資料來源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Marque \Marque\, n. [F. marque, in lettre de marque letter of
   marque, a commission with which the commandant of every armed
   vessel was obliged to be provided, under penalty of being
   considered a pirate or corsair; marque here prob. meaning,
   border, boundary (the letter of marque being a permission to
   go beyond the border), and of German origin. See {March}
   border.] (Law)
   A license to pass the limits of a jurisdiction, or boundary
   of a country, for the purpose of making reprisals.

   {Letters of marque}, {Letters of marque and reprisal}, a
      license or extraordinary commission granted by a
      government to a private person to fit out a privateer or
      armed ship to cruise at sea and make prize of the enemy's
      ships and merchandise. The ship so commissioned is
      sometimes called a letter of marque.

資料來源 : WordNet®

letters of marque
     n : a license to a private citizen to seize property of another
         nation [syn: {letter of marque}, {letter of mark and
         reprisal}]