fire ship
- a vessel loaded with combustibles and explosives, ignited, and set adrift to destroy an enemy's ships or constructions.
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Origin of fire ship
First recorded in 1580–90
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for fire ship
Historical Examples of fire ship
It is a fire-ship,” cried Pepé, “with which they want to set fire to our island.
Wood RangersMayne Reid
A vessel filled with combustibles, but rather for explosion than as a fire-ship.
The Sailor's Word-BookWilliam Henry Smyth
There could be no doubt that her intention must be to run aboard the Orpheus, and that she must be a fire-ship.
Hurricane HurryW.H.G. Kingston
The other fire-ship had been less calmly and skilfully managed.
In Greek WatersG. A. Henty
He ran the enemy aboard to windward, lashed the fire-ship there, and fired the train.
In Greek WatersG. A. Henty
fire ship
- a vessel loaded with explosives and used, esp formerly, as a bomb by igniting it and directing it to drift among an enemy's warships
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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