Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

ship of the line

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.82 in modern English

Syllables: ship of the -line
IPA

24

Scrabble Score

13

Letters

2

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

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.

Etymology

Contraction of ship of the line of battle, a warship large enough to be in the line of battle. See also battleship, contracted from the same phrase; and line of battle ship.

Inflected Forms

ships of the line (plural) ship-of-the-line (alternative)

Derived Forms

liner lineship

Phrases

line-ship line ship senior ship of the line captain senior ship-of-the-line captain ship-of-the-line captain ship of the line captain ship-of-the-line ensign ship of the line ensign

Synonyms

man-of-war line of battle ship liner

Questions

What does ship of the line mean?: 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.
Where does ship of the line come from?: Contraction of ship of the line of battle, a warship large enough to be in the line of battle. See also battleship, contracted from the same phrase; and line of battle ship.

How to pronounce ship of the line

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