U-boat

[ yoo-boht ]

noun

1. a German submarine.

U-boat

noun

1. a German submarine, esp in World Wars I and II

Word History and Origins

Origin of U-boat¹

1910–15; < German U-Boot, short for Unterseeboot literally, undersea boat

Word History and Origins

Origin of U-boat¹

from German U-Boot, abbreviation for Unterseeboot, literally: undersea boat

Example Sentences

Gasoline rationing was instituted: There was no lack of product from the oil fields, it was simply being torpedoed by U-boats, causing severe shortages along the East Coast.

From Salon

More than 500 of the ship's crew died when it was attacked by a German U-boat in October 1914.

From BBC

Guy Ritchie’s latest follows a group of British special forces who took on German U-boats during World War II — and helped inspire James Bond.

From Los Angeles Times

That included staffing her post as the news came in that a convoy escorted by her future husband’s ship, the destroyer HMS Oribi, had been attacked by a U-boat wolf pack.

From Seattle Times

Members of the German naval staff were calling for a return to unrestricted submarine warfare—allowing U-boat captains to sink Allied shipping in international waters without warning.

From Literature

Related Words

• submersible