Definition of fireship in English:
fireship
noun ˈfʌɪəʃɪpˈfaɪ(ə)rˌʃɪp
historical A ship loaded with burning material and explosives and set adrift to ignite and blow up an enemy's ships.
Example sentencesExamples
- This enabled the English to disperse his fleet by a fireship attack and strong winds blew it into the North Sea.
- On the left of the picture, meanwhile, English fireships set out towards the approaching Armada.
- At this point the English sent in fireships and the Armada scattered in disarray.
- The French were badly beaten and when they sought shelter were assailed by fireships and boarding parties.
- The running battle up the Channel was inconclusive, and only the English fireship attack on the Armada's anchorage off Calais broke the stalemate.
Definition of fireship in US English:
fireship
nounˈfī(ə)rˌSHipˈfaɪ(ə)rˌʃɪp
historical A ship loaded with burning material and explosives and set adrift to ignite and blow up an enemy's ships.
Example sentencesExamples
- At this point the English sent in fireships and the Armada scattered in disarray.
- The running battle up the Channel was inconclusive, and only the English fireship attack on the Armada's anchorage off Calais broke the stalemate.
- On the left of the picture, meanwhile, English fireships set out towards the approaching Armada.
- This enabled the English to disperse his fleet by a fireship attack and strong winds blew it into the North Sea.
- The French were badly beaten and when they sought shelter were assailed by fireships and boarding parties.