commerce raiding

commerce raiding (countable and uncountable, plural commerce raidings)

1. (military, historical) A form of naval warfare that primarily targets enemy merchant ships on the open sea.
   • 1907, Captain R. N., “Food for Thought”, in The United Service Magazine:

     Although the Admiralty have published no report on the subject of the last manœuvres, it is generally believed that, during the short period commerce raiding lasted, Sir W. May's fleet, limited as the area was, and stringent as the rules laid down as to exemptions, did far more damage to our trade than the authorities care to make known.

• commerce raider