: an armed ship disguised as a merchant or fishing ship to decoy enemy submarines into gun range

Word History

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Q-ship was in 1919

Dictionary Entries Near Q-ship

Cite this Entry

“Q-ship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Q-ship. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

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