fire ship

American  

noun

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

---

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

---

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

After this his men gathered all the pitch, tar and brimstone they could find in the town, and with them stocked the fire ship, which we have spoken of before.

From Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 5 by Sylvester, Charles Herbert

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)

On the 16th of October, 1746, he was made lieutenant of a frigate, and at the time of his offer was still only captain of a fire ship.

From Celebrated Travels and Travellers Part 2. The Great Navigators of the Eighteenth Century by Benett, Léon

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)