FIRE-SHIP

A ve el filled with combustible ma. terials for the purpose of being sent in a burning state among the ships of an enemy, in order to set them on fire, and thereby effect their destruction. As the destruction of the ve el itself is a nece ary consequence, it must be abandoned by the men, and therefore cannot be steered. Hence fire-ships are formidable only to ve els which cannot be manoeuvred, either by reason of their having been disabled, or on account of their occupying a confined space, as a harbour, where there is not room for escape. [s. 1384]