hospital ship

noun

1. a ship built to serve as a hospital, especially used to treat the wounded in wartime and accorded safe passage by international law.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hospital ship¹

First recorded in 1675–85

Example Sentences

Streets were empty, restaurants were deserted, and a hospital ship was docked not far from the Javits Center.

From Time

Since the outbreak of hostilities, however, she has been transformed into a hospital ship at Port-Arthur.

From Project Gutenberg

The train arrives just in time to meet the hospital ship at the port.

From Project Gutenberg

"There goes a hospital ship," and a Commander of one of H.M. Patrols pointed out to me a transport full of wounded.

From Project Gutenberg

No lights anywhere, except the green lights on a hospital ship far away.

From Project Gutenberg

One had no sooner received its melancholy freight, than it left the islets, on its way to the hospital-ship of the fleet.

From Project Gutenberg