battle cruiser

a warship of maximum speed and firepower, but with lighter armor than a battleship.

Origin of battle cruiser

First recorded in 1910–15

It remains to consider the function of the battle-cruiser in the line of battle.

Naval Warfare |James R. Thursfield
The battle-cruiser is a hybrid and, as this war has proved, a most useful war-vessel.

The British Navy Book |Cyril Field
Slowly the battle-cruiser threaded her way through the deep water marked but by buoys into the inner harbour.

Down Under With the Prince |Everard Cotes
To take aim from such an altitude is impossible, especially at a rapidly moving target such as a battle-cruiser.

Aeroplanes and Dirigibles of War |Frederick A. Talbot

The silk, somehow, seemed strangely out of place in the gun-turret of a battle-cruiser.

Pincher Martin, O.D. |H. Taprell Dorling

battle cruiser

a warship of battleship size but with lighter armour and fewer guns and capable of high speed