gunship

[ guhn-ship ]

noun

1. a helicopter or fixed-wing airplane armed with rapid-fire guns or cannons and used to provide close air support for troops in combat.

Word History and Origins

Origin of gunship¹

First recorded in 1965–70; gun ¹ + ship ¹

Example Sentences

The Sun reports that the Royal helicopter gunship pilot, 28, was sent a copy of Celebrate at his base by Pippa.

From The Daily Beast

Back there I could fly a gunship, I could drive a tank, I was in charge of million-dollar equipment.

From The Daily Beast

A helicopter gunship was circling a checkpoint as a young rebel fighter blasted away with a heavy machine gun.

From The Daily Beast

The seventy-four gunship, Gabriel Conroy, was clearing the decks for action.

From Project Gutenberg