U-boat

[yoo-boht]

noun

1. a German submarine.

U-boat

noun

1. a German submarine, esp in World Wars I and II

Word History and Origins

Origin of U-boat¹

1910–15; < German U-Boot, short for Unterseeboot literally, undersea boat

Word History and Origins

Origin of U-boat¹

from German U-Boot, abbreviation for Unterseeboot, literally: undersea boat

Example Sentences

Known within their own ranks as “U-boats,” they survived under seemingly impossible conditions thanks to the ingenuity and courage of Maltzan and others like her.

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The German U-boat force maintained a fearsome reputation.

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For the most part, however, “Wolfpack” chronicles the misery, failure and deaths of U-boat crews.

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As America entered World War II, New York City was threatened by prowling U-boats off the coast and Nazi spies lodged in Manhattan hotels.

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Once the Navy had cleared the coast of U-boats, writes Mr. Wallace, New York became “the most spectacular war port in the world.”

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Related Words

• submersible