torˈpedo boat
A vessel carrying one or more torpedoes; now a small, fast war-ship from which torpedoes are discharged. Hence torpedo-boat v. trans. (nonce-wd.), to furnish or arm with torpedo boats.
| 1810 Fulton Torpedo War (N.Y.) 44 It would be difficult for a Torpedo boat to depart from any port of America, and return without being detected. 1865 in Morn. Star 2 Feb., They took advantage of the storm and darkness to send down a fleet of eight vessels of war and three torpedo boats. 1880 Standard 29 Dec. 6/1 The first [torpedo boat] ever known being a very primitive model, invented by Captain David Bushnell, of the Engineer Corps, United States Army, and launched in New York harbour in 1776. 1898 Harper's Mag. XCVI. 830 She is building twelve new first⁓class torpedo-boats and four destroyers. 1884 Pall Mall G. 8 Dec. 5/2 To torpedo boat our coast on the German, Russian, or Austrian scale we should require not 100 torpedo boats, but 1,000. |
b. attrib. and Comb., as torpedo-boat engagement, torpedo boat workshop; torpedo-boat catcher, torpedo-boat destroyer, two types of small, fast warships, originally designed to prevent torpedo boats from operating against a fleet.
(The torpedo-catcher, officially termed torpedo-gunboat, was superseded in 1893 by the torpedo boat destroyer, a larger, faster, and more powerful torpedo boat, designed for offensive purposes; the torpedo boat being appropriated to coast and harbour defence.)
| 1893 Daily News 14 Feb. 8/7 They are to be termed Torpedo-boat Destroyers, and in size will be between a torpedo catcher of the sharpshooter class and a first-class torpedo boat. 1899 F. T. Bullen Way Navy 59 But torpedo-boat people are accustomed to put up with many things of which landsmen have little idea. 1901 F. T. Jane in New Penny Mag. 30 Nov. 205/1 We had..a number of torpedo-boat catchers, which..were unable to catch the craft they were intended to chase. |