ship of the line

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noun

a former sailing warship armed powerfully enough to serve in the line of battle, usually having cannons ranged along two or more decks; battleship.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of ship of the line

First recorded in 1700–10

Words nearby ship of the line

shipmaster, shipmate, shipment, ship money, ship of state, ship of the line, ship of war, ship out, shipowner, shippable, shipper

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use ship of the line in a sentence

The game was up with the Wasp and her prize, for the new ship was the Poictiers, a great seventy-four ship-of-the-line.
Stories of Our Naval Heroes|Various
It soon became evident that the leading ship-of-the-line was gaining upon the frigate, and the latter cleared for action.
The Life of Nelson, Vol. I (of 2)|A. T. (Alfred Thayer) Mahan
"Redoutable," French ship-of-the-line,Nelson mortally wounded by a shot from, ii.
The Life of Nelson, Vol. I (of 2)|A. T. (Alfred Thayer) Mahan
Rather be a letter of marque, in fact, than a ship-of-the-line,—more credit to your Lordship's love of danger than discipline.
The Knight Of Gwynne, Vol. II (of II)|Charles James Lever

In that day, even a French ship-of-the-line was no model of discipline or order, and a letter-of-marque was consequently worse.
Afloat And Ashore|James Fenimore Cooper

British Dictionary definitions for ship of the line

ship of the line

noun

nautical (formerly) a warship large enough to fight in the first line of battle

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012