armed merchantman
An "armed merchantman" refers to a merchant ship that has been outfitted with weapons for protection, often used historically in times of conflict or piracy.
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Definition
C1Maritime Defense
(historical)A commercial vessel equipped with weapons to protect against pirates or enemy ships.
Example
- During the age of sail, an armed merchantman was essential for safe passage through pirate-infested waters.
C2Wartime Commerce
(technical)A merchant ship converted into a warship by adding weaponry, primarily for raiding or defending trade routes.
Example
- In World War I, many countries relied on armed merchantmen to protect their shipping lanes from enemy submarines.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "armed merchantman":
merchant princemerchant marineletter of marquecaper merchantpacket boatarms dealerpirate shipsailing vessel