According to the article, it looks as if it originates in admiralty "prize" law, which seems to be about buccaneers like Francis Drake; and later extended to th

According to the article, it looks as if it originates in admiralty "prize" law, which seems to be about buccaneers like Francis Drake; and later extended to the colonies, to allow seizure of ships and their contents trading with a colony without authorisation (e.g. not a British ship, or duty not paid).