1. plural of fireship; ships set on fire and sent toward enemy vessels to cause damage or panic, especially in naval warfare.
Usage: historical; nautical

Examples

• The British navy used fireships as a tactical weapon against the Spanish Armada.
• During the siege, fireships were launched downriver to destroy the enemy fleet.
• The crew abandoned the fireships once they were set ablaze and sent toward their targets.
• Fireships were an effective but dangerous naval strategy in the 16th and 17th centuries.
• The enemy scattered in panic when they saw the fireships approaching through the darkness.