treasure ship

noun

A type of vast, multi-masted Chinese vessel used on the Ming treasure voyages, led by Zheng He in the first half of the 15th century, used for command purposes and the transportation of treasure.

OriginChinese 寶船 /宝船 →
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Meanings

nountreasure ship (plural treasure ships)

plural treasure ships

  1. historicalA type of vast, multi-masted Chinese vessel used on the Ming treasure voyages, led by Zheng He in the first half of the 15th century, used for command purposes and the transportation of treasure.

Origin

  1. Chinese寶船 /宝船
  2. Englishtreasure ship

Calque of Chinese 寶船 /宝船 (bǎochuán).

More words from Chinese

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 寶船 /宝船
  • 寶船 /宝船 (bǎochuán)command and treasure-carrying vessel
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

Source: treasure ship on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.