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merchant navy

British  

noun

  1. the ships or crew engaged in a nation's commercial shipping

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

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Merchant navy officer Rachel Owens told the media this week that ships have recently discovered what successful means of deterring Somali pirates?

From Slate • Nov. 1, 2013