I. ˈship noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English schip, ship, from Old English scip; akin to Old High German skif ship, boat, vessel for liquids, Old Norse & Gothic skip ship, boat, Old English scēadan to divide, separate — more at shed
1.
a. : any large seagoing boat
b. : a sailing boat having a bowsprit and usually a square-rigged foremast, mainmast, and mizzenmast each composed of a lower mast, a topmast, a topgallant mast, and sometimes higher masts
2.
a. : a boat intended or used for navigation and propelled by power or sail
b. : a boat or structure used for purposes of navigation or intended or used for transportation on a river, sea, ocean, or other navigable water without regard to its form or means of propulsion
3. : a ship's company or crew
the whole ship cheering the captain
4. : a incense vessel or boat
5. : one's affairs or good fortune
when his ship comes in he will pay his debts
6. : airship , airplane
7. : a part used to move something from one place to another
the ships of scissors
8.
a. : a unit of at least five sea explorers of the Boy Scouts of America under the leadership of a skipper
b. : a senior girl scout mariner troop
II. verb
( shipped ; shipped ; shipping ; ships )
Etymology: Middle English schippen, shippen, from schip, ship, n.
transitive verb
1.
a. : to place or receive on board of a ship for transportation by water : cause to embark
kept busy … shipping mackerel and cod — Cid R. Sumner
b.
(1) : to cause to be transported
ships hundreds of carloads annually — American Guide Series: Maryland
was shipped off to do five months in jail — H.D.Quillin
(2) : to transport or cause to be transported under military orders
was shipped overseas as an infantry replacement — Gordon Harrison
— often used with out
recruits are shipped out as soon as they can be processed
2. obsolete : to provide with a ship
3. : to put in place for use
ship the tiller
ship the mast
lights should be shipped and in working order — Manual of Seamanship
4. : to take into a ship or boat
shipped his dripping paddle into the rented canoe — Erle Stanley Gardner
when the oars are shipped they should be laid in the boat — H.A.Calahan
5. : to engage or secure for service on a ship
shipping 10 extra hands for the voyage
6. : to take (as water) over the side
had shipped a good amount of water — Alexander MacDonald
ships up to 500 tons of ice topside — Time
7. : to put or take on (as clothing or a burden)
shipped the pack onto his back
8. : to move (something) from one place or position to another : shift
shipped the gun to his shoulder and … fired both barrels — Gerald Durrell
intransitive verb
1. : to embark on a ship : board
travelers to the Pacific ship at a western port
2.
a. : to go or travel by ship
shipped to America in 1819 — W.A.Swanberg
— often used with out
might even ship out on a tramp … and go to Mexico — James Jones
b. : to proceed by ship or other means under military orders
had a letter … with a San Francisco A.P.O. number, and knew that Dennis had shipped overseas — C.O.Gorham
— often used with out
is now on a nine day leave before shipping out for overseas duty — Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
3.
a. : to engage to serve on board of a vessel
ran away from home and shipped before the mast — H.O.Brundidge
b. : to reenlist for navy or marine service — usually used with over
I mean when I finish this last hitch, not to ship over — Martin Dibner
4. : to rest or have its position when ready for use — used with in
the lower end of a sprit ships in a grommet
Synonyms: see send
•
- ship a sea
III.
chiefly dialect
variant of sheep
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: by shortening
Britain : companionship
V. abbreviation
1. shipment
2. shipping
VI. noun
: spacecraft