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gunboat

[ guhn-boht ]

/ ˈgʌnˌboʊt /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR gunboat ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a small, armed warship of light draft, used in ports where the water is shallow.

any small ship carrying mounted guns.

Origin of gunboat

First recorded in 1770–80; gun¹ + boat

Words nearby gunboat

gun tackle, gun-shy, gun-toting, gun., guna, gunboat, gunboat diplomacy, guncotton, gunda, gundi, gunfight

Example sentences from the Web for gunboat

Some ventured to say it was a gunboat up the river practising.

Adventures and Reminiscences of a Volunteer |George T. Ulmer
The gunboat fire was stopped for a time by signal, then recommenced in a different direction.

Ten years in the ranks, U.S. army |Augustus Meyers
It was the gunboat 28 coming up from Memphis; she was shelling the rebels along the shore as she came up.

Reports of the Committee on the Conduct of the War |United States Senate
He visited Grand Gulf, went on board of a gunboat, borrowed a shirt, and sat up till midnight writing despatches.

Our Standard-Bearer |Oliver Optic

The gunboat came out as a long dark shape wallowing on the water to the east.

Tono Bungay |H. G. Wells

British Dictionary definitions for gunboat

gunboat

/ (ˈɡʌnˌbəʊt) /

noun

a small shallow-draft vessel carrying mounted guns and used by coastal patrols, etc