cruiser

American  

[kroo-zer] / ˈkru zər /

noun

1. a person or thing that cruises.

2. one of a class of warships of medium tonnage, designed for high speed and long cruising radius.

3. squad car.

4. a vessel, especially a power-driven one, intended for cruising.

5. cabin cruiser.

6. Also called timber cruiser.  a person who estimates the value of the timber in a tract of forest.

7. Slang. a prostitute who walks the street soliciting customers.

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cruiser British  

/ ˈkruːzə /

noun

1. a high-speed, long-range warship of medium displacement, armed with medium calibre weapons or missiles

2. Also called: cabin cruiser.  a pleasure boat, esp one that is power-driven and has a cabin

3. any person or thing that cruises

4. boxing cruiserweight See light heavyweight

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Etymology

Origin of cruiser

1670–80; < Dutch kruiser, equivalent to kruis ( en ) to cruise + -er -er ¹

Example Sentences

Those were partially offset by increases in the Sun Cruiser, Angry Orchard, and Dogfish Head brands, the company said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

Authorities said the children were seen walking away from the foster care home and may now be traveling in a black 2008 PT Cruiser with Indiana license plate DFT105.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 21, 2025

She’s already harried by trying to accomplish this enormous task while grieving at the same time, and a dog the size of a PT Cruiser isn’t helping that stress one bit.

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2025

When World War One broke out Hawke was deployed to the 10th Cruiser Squadron and took part in blockade duties between Shetland and Norway.

From BBC • Aug. 15, 2024

I walked back to the Land Cruiser parked along the sidewalk.

From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini

Related Words

• battleship
• corvette
• cutter
• destroyer
• frigate
• gunboat
• submarine