minelayer

American  

[mahyn-ley-er] / ˈmaɪnˌleɪ ər /

noun

1. a naval ship equipped for placing mines in the water.

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minelayer British  

/ ˈmaɪnˌleɪə /

noun

1. a warship or aircraft designed for the carrying and laying of mines

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Etymology

Origin of minelayer

First recorded in 1905–10; mine ² + lay ¹ + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Taiwan also produces its own deterrent weapons, including minelayer ships, air defense missile systems and antiship cruise missiles.

From New York Times • Oct. 5, 2022

Among the warships on display were the island's new minelayer as well as a stealth corvette, which has been dubbed by Taiwan's navy the "aircraft carrier killer" due to its complement of anti-ship missiles.

From Reuters • Jul. 26, 2022

Terror, a minelayer, was anchored at Kerama Retto, off the southwest coast of Okinawa Island, where it was receiving casualties from nearby ships.

From New York Times • May 21, 2020

A 71-year-old retiree in East Hanover, N.J., he was a radioman on the minelayer Oglala when the attack began.

From Time Magazine Archive

The Japanese destroyed or damaged three navy cruisers, three destroyers, an anti-aircraft training ship, and one minelayer, leading our nation into World War II. One hundred eighty-eight US aircraft were destroyed.

From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson