mare clausum

noun ma·re clau·sum \ˈmär-(ˌ)ā-ˈklau̇-səm, -ˈklȯ-\

Definition of MARE CLAUSUM

: a navigable body of water (as a sea) that is under the jurisdiction of one nation and is closed to other nations

New Latin, literally, closed sea

First Known Use: 1652

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