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Glite Dictionary
pigboat

pigboat

9.9
A small early submarine used in war and often armed with torpedoes
  • noun
  • Archaic
translation icon : submarino
  • He wrote a memoir about serving aboard a pigboat during the First World War.

Examples

  • In the early days of naval warfare, a pigboat was considered a daring and dangerous machine.

  • The aging pigboat surfaced just before dawn, its crew exhausted after a long patrol.

  • The pigboat was an innovative design for its time.

  • During World War II, many pigboats were deployed in the Pacific.

  • The pigboat was equipped with torpedoes, making it a formidable weapon during naval warfare.

  • During World War II, the pigboat played a crucial role in underwater missions against enemy vessels.

  • The documentary highlighted how the pigboat revolutionized warfare by allowing stealthy attacks from the ocean depths.

Synonyms

submarine
vspigboat
191 4.2

A warship that travels underwater and carries torpedoes

is an earlier, historical model rather than the typical modern warship form
sub
vspigboat
  • Informal
133 5.8

A ship that travels under water, often used by the navy

is an older, early model rather than the common modern military type
attack submarine
vspigboat
  • Specialized
2 5.5

A military ship that travels under water to find and destroy enemy ships

is an early general warship type rather than a purpose built hunter of enemies

Surface Forms

pigboat singular
pigboats plural

Morphology

pigboat = pig + boat (opaque) = pig + boat

Although the form is a straightforward noun+noun compound ('pig' + 'boat'), the slang meaning 'submarine' is not predictable from the components for an average learner.

Etymology

The word pigboat comes from the two simple parts pig and boat. One popular story says sailors started calling early submarines 'pigboats' because the small boats sounded or moved like pigs when they went up and down, so today pigboat means an early war submarine.