Definition of "commerce-destroying" []

• The systematic pursuit and capture of merchant vessels of the enemy, by armed cruisers especially devoted to this purpose. It is the modern equivalent of privateering, which has been abolished among civilized nations. (noun)

The Century Dictionary (Public Domain)

• "The Dresden, having escaped from the Falklands, engaged in commerce-destroying until cornered at Juan Fernandez, where the ship was blown up by its own crew (March 1, 1915)."
• "In time, however, these commerce-destroying vessels, though approved by Congress in March 1776—“That the inhabitants of these Colonies be permitted to fit out armed vessels, to cruise on the enemies of these United Colonies”—became rivals rather than associates of the navy."
• "Of the one policy which has constantly prevailed with our great English admirals, that of making the destruction of the enemy's fighting fleet the primary object, with mere commerce-destroying secondary, Drake was in practice the father; of the other, that of concentrating on his trade-routes and menacing his commerce, not unusually favoured by"