Lightship - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
A lightship is a stationary vessel equipped with a bright beacon, serving as a floating lighthouse to guide ships in dangerous or hard-to-mark coastal areas where permanent structures are impractical.
Definition:
A ship equipped with a beacon to guide or warn other vessels in dangerous waters.
Synonyms:
beacon vessel, guide ship, marker boat
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
unmarked vessel, hazard
Common Collocations:
anchored lightship, floating lightship, manned lightship
Derivatives:
lightships, lightshipman
Usage Tips:
Use "lightship" to refer to a stationary navigational aid ship, not a moving one.
Common Phrases:
"like a lightship, " "steady as a lightship, " "lightship in the storm"
Etymology:
Derived from "light" (illumination) + "ship," first used in the 18th century for beacon-carrying vessels.
Examples:
- 1. The lightship warned sailors of the hidden reef.
- 2. Fog made it hard to spot the anchored lightship ahead.
- 3. The old lightship was replaced by an automated buoy system.
- 4. Lightships were vital for safe navigation before modern technology.