battle-cruiser

Meaning

Noun

• A type of warship somewhat lighter than a battleship, but larger and heavier than a typical cruiser and having armor or armament (but not both) equivalent to that of a battleship. Introduced ca. 1908 and forming the leading squadrons of WWI battle fleets but obsolescent by WWII, having been replaced by the "fast battleship" type.
• In fiction, a warship of intermediate capability between cruisers and battleships.

Origin

• battle + cruiser