pocket battleship

American  

noun

1. a small heavily armed and armored warship serving as a battleship because of limitations imposed by treaty.

---

pocket battleship British  

noun

1. a small heavily armoured and armed battle cruiser specially built to conform with treaty limitations on tonnage and armament, esp any of those built by Germany in the 1930s

---

Etymology

Origin of pocket battleship

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

The New Zealand bowlers, to their credit, ran in wholeheartedly all day, none more so than the indefatigable Wagner, a pocket battleship ploughing relentlessly through the waves, who flogged his way through 43 overs.

From The Guardian

The firm is less a boutique and more a pocket battleship, with a leading position in capital-raising and dealing in shares and bonds.

From Economist

The British Navy dogs were trying to get at the pocket battleships.

From Project Gutenberg

Shells from the pocket battleship sent up huge columns of water alongside.

From Project Gutenberg

"Didn't we blow up a pocket battleship?" he argued sourly.

From Project Gutenberg