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torpedo boat

See more synonyms for torpedo boat on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a small, fast, highly maneuverable boat used for torpedoing enemy shipping.
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Origin of torpedo boat

An Americanism dating back to 1800–10
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for torpedo boat

Historical Examples

  • A torpedo-boat destroyer is clearly illustrated in Figs. 28 and 29.

    Boys' Book of Model Boats

    Raymond Francis Yates

  • A battleship should be at least twice as long as a torpedo-boat destroyer.

    Boys' Book of Model Boats

    Raymond Francis Yates

  • The two other torpedo-boat divisions will accompany the squadron.

  • Just then a torpedo-boat was seen to quit the side of the Russian.

  • We had them once a week, and torpedo-boat skirmishes on off days.

    A Padre in France

    George A. Birmingham

British Dictionary definitions for torpedo boat

torpedo boat

noun
  1. (formerly) a small high-speed warship designed to carry out torpedo attacks in coastal waters
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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