torpedo boat
- 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 of torpedo boat
A torpedo-boat destroyer is clearly illustrated in Figs. 28 and 29.
Boys' Book of Model BoatsRaymond Francis Yates
A battleship should be at least twice as long as a torpedo-boat destroyer.
Boys' Book of Model BoatsRaymond Francis Yates
The two other torpedo-boat divisions will accompany the squadron.
The Coming Conquest of EnglandAugust Niemann
Just then a torpedo-boat was seen to quit the side of the Russian.
In the Track of the TroopsR.M. Ballantyne
We had them once a week, and torpedo-boat skirmishes on off days.
A Padre in FranceGeorge A. Birmingham
torpedo boat
- (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
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