[f. WAR sb.1 + SHIP sb.] A ship armed and manned for war.

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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.

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1776.  Mickle, trans. Camoens’ Lusiad, VI. 261. Brave Coello’s war-ship.

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1848.  Lytton, K. Arthur, II. xciv. Send seven tall war-ships to the Cymrian lands.

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1864.  Burton, Scot Abr., I. iii. 114. They dared not attempt, in face of the English war-ships, to land at a southern harbour.

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1895.  Review of Rev., Nov., 383/2. Russian warships were to be authorised to anchor in Port Arthur.

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  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.

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