sea fight

a fight between ships at sea.

Origin of sea fight

First recorded in 1590–1600

The great object in a sea-fight was to charge an opponent amidships, or on the stern, or on some defenceless part.

Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine--Volume 62, No. 386, December, 1847 |Various
We illustrate a Copenhagen porcelain bowl, with painted scene, showing the Dannebrog flying and the sea-fight in progress.

Chats on Royal Copenhagen Porcelain |Arthur Hayden
The sea-fight was an obstinate one, though not remarkable for its science; indeed it was more like a battle by land.

The History of the Peloponnesian War |Thucydides
Sluys is often spoken of as the sea-fight that inaugurated the long victorious career of the British Navy.

Famous Sea Fights |John Richard Hale

Byng's Sea-fight, in aid of a suffering Kaiser and his Sicilies, in consequence.

History Of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Volume V. (of XXI.) |Thomas Carlyle