3 definitions found From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]: Torpedo \Tor*pe"do\, n.; pl. {Torpedoes}. [L. torpedo, -inis, from torpere to be stiff, numb, or torpid. See {Torpid}.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of elasmobranch fishes belonging to {Torpedo} and allied genera. They are related to the rays, but have the power of giving electrical shocks. Called also {crampfish}, and {numbfish}. See {Electrical fish}, under {Electrical}. [1913 Webster] Note: The common European torpedo ({Torpedo vulgaris}) and the American species ({Torpedo occidentalis}) are the best known. [1913 Webster] 2. An engine or machine for destroying ships by blowing them up; a mine[4]. Specifically: [1913 Webster +PJC] (a) A quantity of explosives anchored in a channel, beneath the water, or set adrift in a current, and so designed that they will explode when touched or approached by a vessel, or when an electric circuit is closed by an operator on shore; now called {marine mine}. [obsolete] [1913 Webster +PJC] Damn the torpedoes -- full speed ahead! --Adm. David Glasgow Farragut (At the battle of Mobile Bay, 1864). (b) A kind of small submarine boat carrying an explosive charge, and projected from a ship against another ship at a distance, or made self-propelling, and otherwise automatic in its action against a distant ship. [1913 Webster] 3. (Mil.) A kind of shell or cartridge buried in earth, to be exploded by electricity or by stepping on it; now called {land mine}. [obsolete] [1913 Webster +PJC] 4. (Railroad) A kind of detonating cartridge or shell placed on a rail, and exploded when crushed under the locomotive wheels, -- used as an alarm signal. [1913 Webster] 5. An explosive cartridge or shell lowered or dropped into a bored oil well, and there exploded, to clear the well of obstructions or to open communication with a source of supply of oil. [1913 Webster] 6. A kind of firework in the form of a small ball, or pellet, which explodes when thrown upon a hard object. [1913 Webster] 7. An automobile with a {torpedo body}. [Archaic Cant] [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC] {Fish torpedo}, a spindle-shaped, or fish-shaped, self-propelling submarine torpedo. {Spar torpedo}, a canister or other vessel containing an explosive charge, and attached to the end of a long spar which projects from a ship or boat and is thrust against an enemy's ship, exploding the torpedo. {Torpedo boat}, a vessel adapted for carrying, launching, operating, or otherwise making use of, torpedoes against an enemy's ship., especially, a small, fast boat with tubes for launching torpedoes. {Torpedo nettings}, nettings made of chains or bars, which can be suspended around a vessel and allowed to sink beneath the surface of the water, as a protection against torpedoes. [1913 Webster] From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]: torpedo n 1: a professional killer who uses a gun [syn: {gunman}, {gunslinger}, {hired gun}, {gun}, {gun for hire}, {triggerman}, {hit man}, {hitman}, {shooter}] 2: a large sandwich made of a long crusty roll split lengthwise and filled with meats and cheese (and tomato and onion and lettuce and condiments); different names are used in different sections of the United States [syn: {bomber}, {grinder}, {hero}, {hero sandwich}, {hoagie}, {hoagy}, {Cuban sandwich}, {Italian sandwich}, {poor boy}, {sub}, {submarine}, {submarine sandwich}, {wedge}, {zep}] 3: an explosive device that is set off in an oil well (or a gas well) to start or to increase the flow of oil (or gas) 4: a small firework that consists of a percussion cap and some gravel wrapped in paper; explodes when thrown forcefully against a hard surface 5: a small explosive device that is placed on a railroad track and fires when a train runs over it; the sound of the explosion warns the engineer of danger ahead 6: armament consisting of a long cylindrical self-propelled underwater projectile that detonates on contact with a target 7: any sluggish bottom-dwelling ray of the order Torpediniformes having a rounded body and electric organs on each side of the head capable of emitting strong electric discharges [syn: {electric ray}, {crampfish}, {numbfish}] v : attack or hit with torpedoes [also: {torpedoes} (pl)] From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]: torpedoes See {torpedo}
Powered by Blog Dictionary [BlogDict]
Kindly supported by
Vaffle Invitation Code
Get a Freelance Job - Outsource Your Projects | Threadless Coupon
All rights
reserved. (2008-2024)