turtle ship

noun

A Korean armored warship with iron spikes on its deck, chiefly known for being used in the Imjin War (1592—1598) against the Japanese by Admiral Yi Sun-sin.

OriginKorean 거북선 →
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Meanings

nounturtle ship (plural turtle ships)

plural turtle ships

  1. historicalA Korean armored warship with iron spikes on its deck, chiefly known for being used in the Imjin War (1592—1598) against the Japanese by Admiral Yi Sun-sin.

Origin

  1. Korean거북선
  2. Englishturtle ship

Calque of Korean 거북선 (geobukseon).

More words from Korean

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Translations

Chinese Mandarin 龜船 /龟船
  • 龜船 /龟船 (guīchuán)Warship
French bateau tortue
  • bateau tortueWarship
Korean 거북선, 귀선
  • 거북선 (geobukseon)Warship
  • 귀선 (gwiseon)Warship
Cite this entry
APA

turtle ship. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/turtle%20ship

MLA

“turtle ship.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/turtle%20ship. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “turtle ship,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/turtle%20ship.

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