Ship-of-the-line definition
A warship having at least two gun decks, armed powerfully enough to take a position in the line of battle.
noun
(historical) A sailing warship of the largest class, with guns mounted on three or more decks.
noun
(nautical, military) A large square-rigged warship large enough to have a place in the line of battle. with up to 140 guns on at least two decks. A capital ship from the age of sail, superior to a frigate; usually, a seventy-four, or three-decker.
noun
Advertisement
Other Word Forms
Noun
Singular:
ship-of-the-line
Plural:
ships of the lineOrigin of ship-of-the-line
- Contraction of line of battle ship, a warship large enough to be in the line of battle.
From Wiktionary