[f. WAR sb.1 + SHIP sb.] A ship armed and manned for war.
1533. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., VI. 134. To desist fra all making furth of weir schippis in contrar the Inglismen for weill of peace.
1776. Mickle, trans. Camoens Lusiad, VI. 261. Brave Coellos war-ship.
1848. Lytton, K. Arthur, II. xciv. Send seven tall war-ships to the Cymrian lands.
1864. Burton, Scot Abr., I. iii. 114. They dared not attempt, in face of the English war-ships, to land at a southern harbour.
1895. Review of Rev., Nov., 383/2. Russian warships were to be authorised to anchor in Port Arthur.
fig. 1645. Rutherford, Tryal & Tri. Faith, xxvi. 321. Satans works of sin and Hell was a prison house, and a castle of strength, and a strong war-ship.