torpedo-boat destroyer

[tawr-pee-doh-boht]

noun

a vessel somewhat larger than the ordinary torpedo boat, designed for destroying torpedo boats or as a more powerful form of torpedo boat.

Origin of torpedo-boat destroyer

First recorded in 1890–95

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Examples from the Web for torpedo-boat destroyer

Historical Examples of torpedo-boat destroyer

It was arranged that a torpedo-boat-destroyer should follow him, and this afforded an element of safety.
Learning to Fly
Claude Grahame-White

British Dictionary definitions for torpedo-boat destroyer

torpedo-boat destroyer

noun

(formerly) a large powerful high-speed torpedo boat designed to destroy enemy torpedo boats: a forerunner of the modern destroyer, from which the name is derived

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