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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fire ship

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

From Washington Times ● May 27, 2017

Giving his fire ship a mighty shove he sent it directly between the scows and then he made a great dive down and away.

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

At length the Tyrians determined on attempting to destroy all these wooden works by means of what is called in modern times a fire ship.

From Alexander the Great Makers of History by Jacob Abbott

Night had fallen, and the Aquila blazed like a fire ship.

From The Rim of the Desert by Ada Woodruff Anderson

The fire ship in its place at the head of the line soon met the largest ship, and instantly grappled itself firmly to her side.

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

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