man-of-war

man-of-war [man-uh v-wawr] ExamplesWord Origin noun, plural men-of-war.

1. a warship.
2. 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.

Homeward Bound

James Fenimore Cooper

It is, in short, the man-of-war that was in St. Blas when we left there.

An Old Sailor’s Yarns

Nathaniel Ames

Once, I remember, we came upon a man-of-war anchored off the coast.

Heart of Darkness

Joseph Conrad

Then all the guns were fakes, and the whole business of a man-of-war as well?

The Harbor of Doubt

Frank Williams

Carlos came to the side, and looked after the man-of-war in the distance.

Romance

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

1. a warship
2. 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.