MANOFWAR

Man`-*of`-*war", n; pl. Men-of-war.

Definition: A government vessel employed for the purposes of war, esp. one of large size; a ship of war. Man-of-war bird (Zoöl.), The frigate bird; also applied to the skua gulls, and to the wandering albatross.

– Man-of-war hawk (Zoöl.), the frigate bird.

– Man-of-war's man, a sailor serving in a ship of war.

– Portuguese man-of-war (Zoöl.), any species of the genus Physalia. See Physalia.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition