1. A vessel freighted with combustibles and explosives, and sent adrift among ships, etc. to destroy them.
1628. Meade, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. III. 26970. I cannot hear of above some two or three of our Fire-Ships lost, if so many.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 21, 28 May, ¶ 16. Sir Edward Whitaker, with five Men of War, four Transports, and two Fireships, was arrived at that Port.
a. 1859. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., V. 20. Montague bitterly described him as a fireship, dangerous at best, but on the whole most dangerous as a consort, and least dangerous when showing hostile colours.
2. slang. One suffering from venereal disease; a prostitute.
1672. Wycherly, Love in a Wood, II. i. Sir Sim. Are you not a Fireship? a Punk, Madam?
1673. R. Head, Canting Acad., 18.
Pretty Rascal fare thee well, | |
Born beggars all thou dost excel, | |
Thy Sweep-stakes still shall bare the Bell, | |
No Fire-ship yet aboard it fell. |
1738. Swift, Polite Conv., ii. Wks. 1883, IX. 447. Sir J. No; damn your fire-ships, I have a wife of my own.
1748. Smollett, Rod. Rand., I. xxiii. A fire-ship! replied the sailor, more like a poor galley in distress, that has been boarded by such a fire-ship as you.