picket boat

American  

noun

1. a vessel used to patrol a harbor.

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Etymology

Origin of picket boat

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

But on April 18, amid a Pacific gale, enemy picket boats spotted the Hornet and its escorts.

From Time

Cushing himself swam to the swamps on the river bank, and after wading among them for hours reached a Federal picket boat.

From Project Gutenberg

A picket boat conveyed the Prince and his staff through a narrow entrance into the small landlocked harbour, where they landed on a desolate pier, wet decorations flapping dismally in cold wind and spray.

From Project Gutenberg

By the way, our picket boats report that a steamer came down the bay this morning, and moored inside the Middle Ground.

From Project Gutenberg

Hardly a light showed on the river banks or along the spread of the stream, save indistinct gleams in the misty gloom where the picket boats kept up a ceaseless vigilant patrol.

From Project Gutenberg