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

Breasting slowly up the Patapsco River came a Coast Guard picket boat, opened fire with its single small forward gun as cannon from the fort returned rounds of blanks.

From Time Magazine Archive

Boatswain James R. Ingraham, commanding a Coast Guard picket boat, shouted through the gloom of an early Florida morning last week at a fast little craft he had spotted on Biscayne Bay.

From Time Magazine Archive

The Queen Elizabeth sent away a picket boat which passed through the bullet storm and most gallantly brought off the best part of them.

From Gallipoli Diary, Volume I by Hamilton, Ian, Sir

He settled himself comfortably on top of the cabin of the picket boat and pulled up the collar of his greatcoat about his face.

From The Long Trick by Bartimeus

As soon as it was seen that the Aboukir was in danger of sinking, all the boats were sent away from the Cressy, and a picket boat was hoisted out without steam up.

From History of the World War An Authentic Narrative of the World's Greatest War by March, Francis Andrew