lightship
1 synonym for lightship, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A ship anchored in place and showing a light to guide sailors, used where building a fixed lighthouse would be impractical.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
lightvessel
How to use lightship
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a moored lightship
the lightship's crew
retired lightship
historic lightship
The word belongs to nautical and maritime-history contexts.
Etymology
Lightship is a compound of light and ship, formed directly in English. Related words in Middle Low German and Dutch show the same combination of ideas.
Full origin of lightship →Frequently asked questions
What is a lightship?
A lightship is a ship that stays anchored in one spot and displays a light to warn or guide sailors, standing in for a lighthouse where one cannot be built.
Why were lightships used instead of lighthouses?
They were placed where a fixed lighthouse structure would be impractical.
Is a lightship the same as a lightvessel?
Yes, lightvessel is usually used to mean the same thing as lightship.
