man-of-war [man-uh v-wawr] ExamplesWord Origin noun, plural men-of-war.
- a warship.
- Portuguese man-of-war.
Origin of man-of-war 1400–50 in sense “soldier”; late Middle English Examples from the Web for man-of-war Historical Examples of man-of-war
The Americans exulted at the failure of the man-of-war’s man, and the English doubted.
James Fenimore Cooper
It is, in short, the man-of-war that was in St. Blas when we left there.
Nathaniel Ames
Once, I remember, we came upon a man-of-war anchored off the coast.
Joseph Conrad
Then all the guns were fakes, and the whole business of a man-of-war as well?
Frank Williams
Carlos came to the side, and looked after the man-of-war in the distance.
Joseph Conrad and F.M. Hueffer
British Dictionary definitions for man-of-war man-of-war man o’ war noun plural men-of-war or men o’ war
- a warship
- See Portuguese man-of-war
Word Origin and History for man-of-war n.
late 14c., “a soldier,” from man (n.) + war. Meaning “vessel equipped for warfare” is from late 15c. Man in the sense of “a ship” is attested from late 15c. in combinations (e.g. merchantman). The sea creature known as the Portuguese man-of-war (1707) is so called for its sail-like crest.