fire ship

American  

noun

1. a vessel loaded with combustibles and explosives, ignited, and set adrift to destroy an enemy's ships or constructions.

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fire ship British  

noun

1. 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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Etymology

Origin of fire ship

First recorded in 1580–90

Example Sentences

Somers died when the fire ship he commanded exploded in Tripoli Harbor.

From Washington Times • May 27, 2017

Burying himself in the water to the nose he sent his fire ship down the stream toward the two scows intending for it to enter just between them.

From The Keepers of the Trail A Story of the Great Woods by Altsheler, Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander)

Their scowling faces are lit with fire, like sailors manning their guns in a night fight when a blazing fire ship is bearing down upon them.

From The Iron Puddler My life in the rolling mills and what came of it by Davis, James J. (James John)

While our soldiers were holding their own, as usual, a Genoese fire ship exploded in the canal behind them.

From The Lion of Saint Mark A Story of Venice in the Fourteenth Century by Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)

Nevertheless many ships drifted from their course; fourteen of them were found by a fire ship and conducted to Halifax.

From The Voyage of The First Hessian Army from Portsmouth to New York, 1776 by Pfister, Albert