hell ship en · NOUN
Meanings
- (historical) A ship (sailing vessel) with extremely inhumane living conditions or with a reputation for cruelty among the crew, especially one of those used by the Japanese to transport Allied prisoners of war and Asian slave labourers out of the Philippines, the Dutch East Indies, Hong Kong, and Singapore in World War II.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| hell ships | Number=Plur | lexicographic |