minesweeper

American  

[mahyn-swee-per] / ˈmaɪnˌswi pər /

noun

Navy.

1. a specially equipped ship used for dragging a body of water in order to remove or destroy enemy mines.

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minesweeper British  

/ ˈmaɪnˌswiːpə /

noun

1. a naval vessel equipped to detect and clear mines

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Other Word Forms

• minesweeping noun

Etymology

Origin of minesweeper

First recorded in 1900–05; mine ² + sweeper

Example Sentences

He was one of about 150,000 allied troops who took part in the Normandy Landings on 6 June 1944 - serving as a quartermaster on a minesweeper.

From BBC • Jul. 17, 2024

Leona Woods Marshall Libby: My brother-in-law was a captain of the first bombs’ minesweeper scheduled into Sasebo harbor.

From Scientific American • Jul. 20, 2023

The newly commissioned included a corvette, a minesweeper and the Generalissimus Suvorov nuclear submarine.

From Washington Times • Dec. 29, 2022

For his compulsory national service, Mr. Hodges joined the Royal Navy, serving aboard a minesweeper that traveled between poor fishing communities along the British coastline.

From Washington Post • Dec. 21, 2022

But I scanned the room from the corners of my eyes, back and forth like a minesweeper, for Claire the Vengeful.

From "Ida B" by Katherine Hannigan