dreadnought

or dread·naught

[ dred-nawt ]

noun

1. a type of battleship armed with heavy-caliber guns in turrets: so called from the British battleship Dreadnought, launched in 1906, the first of its type.
2. an outer garment of heavy woolen cloth.
3. a thick cloth with a long pile.

dreadnought

/ ˈdrɛdˌnɔːt /

noun

1. a battleship armed with heavy guns of uniform calibre
2. an overcoat made of heavy cloth
3. slang.
   a heavyweight boxer
4. a person who fears nothing

Word History and Origins

Origin of dreadnought¹

First recorded in 1800–10; dread + nought

Example Sentences

The Gladiator wore a lady's bonnet; the Farnese Hercules looked like an old-fashioned watchman, and sported a dreadnought coat.

From Project Gutenberg

On the 21st of October, early in the morning, the Dreadnought made the signal for the enemy.

From Project Gutenberg

To-morrow, or let us say within three months, England could possess an aerial dreadnought superior to any Zeppelin.

From Project Gutenberg

In 1915 the French pinned their faith to a giant triplane, which well deserved to be called "the Dreadnought of the Air."

From Project Gutenberg

Perhaps the greatest war invention of modern times was the British battleship Dreadnought.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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