a warship or aircraft designed for the carrying and laying of mines
minelayer in American English
(ˈmaɪnˌleɪər)
noun
a naval vessel specially designed and equipped to lay explosive mines in the water
minelayer in American English
(ˈmainˌleiər)
noun
a naval ship equipped for laying mines in the water
Word origin
[1905–10; mine2 + lay1 + -er1]This word is first recorded in the period 1905–10. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Expressionism, airway, aspect ratio, revolving door, scrounge-er is a suffix used in forming nouns designating persons from the object of their occupationor labor (hatter; tiler; tinner; moonshiner), or from their place of origin or abode (Icelander; southerner; villager), or designating either persons or things from some special characteristic or circumstance(six-footer; three-master; teetotaler; fiver; tenner)