[from the Anglo-Saxon scip]. Any craft intended for the purposes of navigation; but in a nautical sense it is a general term for all large square-rigged vessels carrying three masts and a bowsprit the masts being composed of a lower-mast, top-mast, and topgallant-mast, each of these being provided with tops and yards.
♦ Flag-ship. The ship in which the admiral hoists his flag; whatever the rank of the commander be; all the lieutenants take rank before their class in other ships.
♦ Line-of-battle ship. Carrying upwards of 74 guns.
♦ Ship of war. One which, being duly commissioned under a commissioned officer by the admiralty, wears a pendant. The authority of a gunboat, no superior being present, is equal to that of an admiral.
♦ Receiving ship. The port, guard, or admiral's flag-ship, stationed at any place to receive volunteers, and bear them pro. tem. in readiness to join any ship of war which may want hands.
♦ Store-ship. A vessel employed to carry stores, artillery, and provisions, for the use of a fleet, fortress, or Garrison.
♦ Troop-ship. One appointed to carry troops, formerly called a transport.
♦ Hospital-ship. A vessel fitted up to attend a fleet, and receive the sick and wounded. Scuttles are cut in the sides for ventilation. The sick are under the charge of an experienced surgeon, aided by a staff of assistant-surgeons, a proportional number of assistants, cook, baker, and nurses.
♦ Merchant ship. A vessel employed in commerce to carry commodities of various sorts from one port to another. (See merchantman.)
♦ Private ship of war. (See privateers, and letters of marque.)
♦ Slaver, or slave-ship. A vessel employed in carrying negro slaves.
♦ To ship. To embark men or merchandise. It also implies to fix anything in its place, as "Ship the oars," i.e. place them in their rowlocks; "Ship capstan-bars." Also, to enter on board, or engage to join a ship.
♦ To ship a sea. A wave breaking over all in a gale. Hence the old saying
"Sometimes we ship a sea,
Sometimes we see a ship."
♦ To ship a swab. A colloquialism for mounting an epaulette, or receiving a commission.