1.  A vessel freighted with combustibles and explosives, and sent adrift among ships, etc. to destroy them.

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1628.  Meade, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. III. 269–70. I cannot hear of above some two or three of our Fire-Ships lost, if so many.

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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.

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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.

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  2.  slang. One suffering from venereal disease; a prostitute.

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1672.  Wycherly, Love in a Wood, II. i. Sir Sim. Are you not a Fireship? a Punk, Madam?

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1673.  R. Head, Canting Acad., 18.

        Pretty Rascal fare thee well,
Born beggars all thou do’st excel,
Thy Sweep-stakes still shall bare the Bell,
No Fire-ship yet aboard it fell.

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1738.  Swift, Polite Conv., ii. Wks. 1883, IX. 447. Sir J. No; damn your fire-ships, I have a wife of my own.

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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.’

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