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conning tower

[kon-ing]
See more synonyms for conning tower on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the low observation tower of a submarine, constituting the main entrance to the interior.
  2. the low, dome-shaped, armored pilothouse of a warship.
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Origin of conning tower

First recorded in 1865–70; con3 + -ing2
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for conning tower

Historical Examples

  • The conning-tower and periscope are placed on the upper deck, as shown.

    Boys' Book of Model Boats

    Raymond Francis Yates

  • "I'll stand by you," Captain Purnall roars to the lone figure on the conning-tower.

    With The Night Mail

    Rudyard Kipling

  • I waved to Stephan from the side of my conning-tower, and he to me.

    Danger! and Other Stories

    Arthur Conan Doyle

  • There was nothing but the deck, the guns and the conning-tower to be seen.

  • The conning-tower will be seen below the bridge, in front of the foremast.

British Dictionary definitions for conning tower

conning tower

noun
  1. Also called: sail a superstructure of a submarine, used as the bridge when the vessel is on the surface
  2. the armoured pilot house of a warship
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Word Origin

C19: see con 4
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