guard-ship2, guardship
(ˈgɑːdʃɪp)
a. A vessel of war appointed to protect a harbour and to superintend its marine affairs, and to receive seamen until they are able to join their ships. b. ‘The ship (of the squadron) having guard-duty for the day’ (Funk's Stand. Dict.).
| 1689 Wood Life 1 Oct., Colonel Thomas Wilford, late commander of the guardship at Chatham. 1696 Baker's Chron. 756 While our Guard-Ships were remote at Sea, they [the Hollanders] arrived at the mouth of the River Medway. 1697–9 W. Dampier Voy. II. 164 To secure that Trade, they had a Guardship lying there. 1753 Scots Mag. Jan. 47/2 Eighteen men of war are put into commission as guard⁓ships. 1806 A. Duncan Nelson 179 The Goliath was stationed at Portsmouth as a guard-ship. 1833 Marryat P. Simple (1863) 86, I was sent on board of the guard-ship, where I remained about ten days, and then was sent round to join this frigate. 1836 ― Midsh. Easy xxxv, I will procure his discharge as soon as I arrive, and send him on board the guard-ship till I obtain it. 1876 Bancroft Hist. U.S. V. xx. 569 Prescott..had his quarters at a lonely farm-house..with..no protection but a sentry and the guard-ship in the bay. |