semi-dreadnought en · NOUN
Etymology
From semi- + dreadnought.
Meanings
- A type of advanced pre-dreadnought battleship from the very early 20th century, carrying a main armament composed entirely of big guns of different calibers (typically having four guns of the largest caliber, plus a larger number of smaller big guns). It was superior to earlier pre-dreadnoughts, but still not as powerful as the dreadnought introduced in 1906.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| semi-dreadnoughts | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| semidreadnought | alternative | lexicographic |