man-of-war

[ man-uhv-wawr ]

/ ˈmæn əvˈwɔr /

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noun, plural men-of-war.

a warship.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of man-of-war

1400–50 in sense “soldier”; late Middle English

Words nearby man-of-war

man-of-the-earth, man of the hour, man of the house, man of the moment, man of the world, man-of-war, man-of-war bird, man-of-war fish, Manolete, manometer, Manon

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use man-of-war in a sentence

Later on the commander of a German man-of-war and his staff were received and fêted by the Captain-General.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
Lauritz Seehus, creeping in behind him, took the yoke lines, so that everything should be done man-of-war fashion.
Skipper Worse|Alexander Lange Kielland
As soon as they saw our papers signed up by the first man-of-war they let us go very promptly.
Ways of War and Peace|Delia Austrian
Little time was lost in bringing the doctors—Anderson, of the man-of-war, and his friend Dr. Funk.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 25 (of 25)|Robert Louis Stevenson

Fourteen inches is man-of-war allowance, but eighteen inches were allowed for the Guards.
The British Expedition to the Crimea|William Howard Russell

British Dictionary definitions for man-of-war

man-of-war

man o' war

noun plural men-of-war or men o' war

a warship

See Portuguese man-of-war

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012