Man`-of-war" (?), n; pl. Men-of-war.
A government vessel employed for the purposes of war, esp. one of large size; a ship of war.
Man-of-war bird Zool., The frigate bird; also applied to the skua gulls, and to the wandering albatross. -- Man-of-war hawk Zool., the frigate bird. -- Man-of-war's man, a sailor serving in a ship of war. -- Portuguese man-of-war Zool., any species of the genus Physalia. See Physalia.
© Webster 1913.