The Collaborative International Dictionary
Man-of-war \Man`-of-war"\, n; pl. Men-of-war.
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A government vessel employed for the purposes of war, esp. one of large size; a ship of war. [WordNet sense 1]
Syn: ship of the line.
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The Portuguese man-of-war.
Syn: Syn.
--, jellyfish.Man-of-war hawk (Zo["o]l.), the frigate bird.
Man-of-war's man, a sailor serving in a ship of war.
Portuguese man-of-war (Zo["o]l.), any species of the genus Physalia; it is a hydrozoan having both medusa and polyp stages present in a single colony. It floats on the surface of the sea by a buoyant bladderlike structure, from which dangle multiple long tentacles with stinging cells. Its can cause severe rashes when it comes in contact with humans swimming in the area. See Physalia.