shore leave
noun Navy.
permission to spend time ashore, usually 48 hours or more, granted a member of a ship's company.
the time spent ashore during such leave.
Origin of shore leave
First recorded in 1905–10
Words nearby shore leave
shore bird,
shore bug,
shore crab,
shore dinner,
shore fly,
shore leave,
shore patrol,
shore terrace,
shore up,
shorebird,
shorefront
Example sentences from the Web for shore leave
But, to return, Mulholland answered my request for shore-leave with a soothing smile.
The Deluge |David Graham PhillipsIt was not all shore-leave, but there was skittles now and then for the deserving and good-conduct men.
Pike & Cutlass |George GibbsWe had, all of us, already over-stayed our shore-leave by many hours.
Tramping on Life |Harry KempThere is no accounting, ever, for the ways of shore-leave sailor-men.
Told in the East |Talbot Mundy
British Dictionary definitions for shore leave
shore leave
noun navy
permission to go ashore
Compare liberty (def. 5)
time spent ashore during leave