conning tower

[kon-ing]

See more synonyms for conning tower on Thesaurus.com

noun

the low observation tower of a submarine, constituting the main entrance to the interior.
the low, dome-shaped, armored pilothouse of a warship.

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

Related Words for conning tower

bridge

Examples from the Web for conning tower

Historical Examples of conning tower

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 World Peril of 1910
George Griffith
The conning-tower will be seen below the bridge, in front of the foremast.
How Britannia Came to Rule the Waves
W.H.G. Kingston

British Dictionary definitions for conning tower

conning tower

noun

Also called: sail a superstructure of a submarine, used as the bridge when the vessel is on the surface
the armoured pilot house of a warship

Word Origin for conning tower

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