man-of-war
NounWordNet 3.0
Noun (2)
- a warship intended for combatSynonyms: ship of the line
- large siphonophore having a bladderlike float and stinging tentaclesSynonyms: Portuguese man-of-warjellyfish
Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)
Man-of-war \Man`-of-war"\, n; pl. Men-of-war.
1.A government vessel employed for the purposes of war, esp. one of large size; a ship of war. [WordNet sense 1]
Syn: ship of the line. [1913 Webster]
2.The Portuguese man-of-war.
Syn: Syn. --, jellyfish. [WordNet 1.5]
Man-of-war hawk (Zool.), the frigate bird.
Man-of-war's man, a sailor serving in a ship of war.
Portuguese man-of-war (Zool.), any species of the genus Physalia; it is a hydrozoan having both medusa and polyp stages present in a single colony. It floats on the surface of the sea by a buoyant bladderlike structure, from which dangle multiple long tentacles with stinging cells. Its can cause severe rashes when it comes in contact with humans swimming in the area. See Physalia. [1913 Webster]