minesweeper

[ mahyn-swee-per ]

noun

, Navy.

1. a specially equipped ship used for dragging a body of water in order to remove or destroy enemy mines.

minesweeper

/ ˈmaɪnˌswiːpə /

noun

1. a naval vessel equipped to detect and clear mines

Derived Forms

• ˈmineˌsweeping, noun

Other Words From

• minesweeping noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of minesweeper¹

First recorded in 1900–05; mine ² + sweeper

Example Sentences

It may be apropos to say here that the smaller class of minesweeper is usually blown to pieces if she touches a mine.

From Project Gutenberg

A few seconds later another bomb fell close to a minesweeper and a fragment gashed the decks but did not penetrate them.

From Project Gutenberg

Minesweeper Lingfield to take off surplus steaming parties of block ships, which had 100 miles to steam.

From Project Gutenberg