ship-of-the-line
Heavy naval warship
A ship-of-the-line was a warship large enough to take a position in the line of battle—the standard naval formation where opposing fleets exchanged broadsides.
These were the most powerful warships from the 17th through mid-19th centuries, typically carrying 60 to 120 cannons on multiple gun decks.
The term distinguished major combat vessels from smaller ships unsuitable for fleet engagements.
Large mounted gun
- broadsideFierce written assault
- gunneryScience of heavy weaponry
- batteryPortable electricity storage
- ordnanceMilitary weapons collectively
roundshot · grapeshot · cannonade · salvo · recoil · muzzle · touchhole
English family name
- Trafalgar1805 naval battle site
- NapoleonicOf the French emperor
- ArmadaNamed naval force
- admiraltyLaw of the seas
colonial · empire · blockade · convoy · canvas · square-rigged · man-of-war
Outer covering or frame
- keelHull's structural base
- mastVessel's sail support
- riggingRopes controlling ship sails
- quarterdeckShip's elevated aft platform
forecastle · stern · bow · mainmast · yards · sails · capstan · anchor
Of superior quality
- second-rateBelow acceptable standards
- third-rateOf poor quality
- fourth-rateOf very poor quality
- seventy-fourNumber following seventy-three
classification · tonnage · complement · firepower · prestige · Orient
cannon
Large mounted gun
ordnance · roundshot · grapeshot · cannonade · salvo · recoil · muzzle · touchhole
Nelson
English family name
- Trafalgar1805 naval battle site
- NapoleonicOf the French emperor
- ArmadaNamed naval force
admiralty · colonial · empire · blockade · convoy · canvas · square-rigged · man-of-war
hull
Outer covering or frame
quarterdeck · forecastle · stern · bow · mainmast · yards · sails · capstan · anchor · bilge
first-rate
Of superior quality
- second-rateBelow acceptable standards
- third-rateOf poor quality
- fourth-rateOf very poor quality
seventy-four · classification · tonnage · complement · firepower · prestige · Orient
engagement
Commitment to wed or attend
flagship · seamanship · signals · lee · broadsiding · boarding · prize · surrender · victory · defeat
- naval warfarenaval battles, naval battle, battleship, destroyer, sea battles
ship-of-the-linesubmarine
Underwater naval craft
nuclear submarine · ironclad · dreadnought · aircraft carrier · steamship
ship, line, ships, lines, shipping, shipped, shipper, shipment, shipboard