light cruiser

noun

A type of cruiser, defined in the 1930 London Naval Treaty as having a main gun battery of 6.1-inch caliber (155mm) or smaller.

“US Navy hull classification symbol: CL”

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Meanings

nounlight cruiser (plural light cruisers)

plural light cruisers

  1. A type of cruiser, defined in the 1930 London Naval Treaty as having a main gun battery of 6.1-inch caliber (155mm) or smaller.

    US Navy hull classification symbol: CL

Origin

A shortening of "light armored cruiser".

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

light cruiser. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/light%20cruiser

MLA

“light cruiser.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/light%20cruiser. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “light cruiser,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/light%20cruiser.

Source: light cruiser on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.