01 n A government vessel employed for the purposes of war, esp. one of large size; a ship of war.
pl.
Men-of-war
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1.
A government vessel employed for the purposes of war, esp. one of large size; a ship of war.
- 2.
Phrases & compounds
Man-of-war hawk —
the frigate bird.
Man-of-war's man —
a sailor serving in a ship of war.
Portuguese man-of-war —
any species of the genus Physalia; it is a hydrozoan having both medusa and polyp stages present in a single colony. It floats on the surface of the sea by a buoyant bladderlike structure, from which dangle multiple long tentacles with stinging cells. Its can cause severe rashes when it comes in contact with humans swimming in the area. See Physalia.