ship of war

noun

1. warship.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ship of war¹

First recorded in 1470–80

Example Sentences

It looked as if the castle wall had been struck by a broadside of cannon fire from a ship of war.

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"I have seen all the shipping in the river and there's no tall ship of war nor swift galley there. I wish he may chase us! For the Splendor Hyaline could sink anything he has to send after her—if we were overtaken at all."

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And The Fighting Temeraire, the tugboat towing the ghostly sailing ship of war to her grave, the future pulling the past, noise versus silence.

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She grazed the anchor chains of H. M. S. the Colossus, where that ship of war's broad white deck lay level with the water, as heavy and solid as a stone pier.

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The discipline on board the Fulda was like that of a ship of war, where the officers and crew were concerned, but the passengers might have believed they were on their own private yacht.

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