·noun One who, or a vessel that, cruises;
— usually an armed vessel.
II. Cruiser ·add. ·noun A man-of-war less heavily armed and armored than a battle ship, having great speed, and generally of from two thousand to twelve thousand tons displacement.
·add. ·- A man-of-war carrying a large coal supply, and more or less protected from the enemy's shot...
Webster's Dictionary of the English Language