liberty ship

English

aerial photo of the SS John W. Brown, a liberty ship, c. 1943

Etymology

Originally used in a speech by then U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt when the first of the ships were launched to emphasize their purpose, and then later spread.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

liberty ship (plural liberty ships)

1. (nautical) A simple, cheap cargo ship built in the United States during World War II.

References

• https://www.ibiblio.org/pha/timeline/410927awp.html