A blockade-runner is a term that has been used in the past to describe a ship that was used to run through a naval blockade during a time of war. These runners were often used to transport goods, people, and other valuable resources across enemy lines. This article will explore the definition and meaning of blockade-runner, its origins, and its associations in different dictionaries.
Definitions
A blockade-runner is defined as a ship that is used to get through a naval blockade during a time of war. The term is often used to describe a ship that is used to transport goods, people, or other valuable resources across enemy lines. In some cases, blockade-runners were used to smuggle goods that were banned by the enemy government.
Origin
The term blockade-runner originated during the American Civil War. During this time, the Union Navy established a blockade of the Confederate ports to prevent the Confederacy from receiving supplies and resources from foreign countries. The Confederacy responded by using blockade-runners to transport goods and resources across the blockade.
Meaning in different dictionaries
In the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, blockade-runner is defined as “a ship that runs a naval blockade.” The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as “a vessel used to carry goods through a blockade.”
Associations
Blockade-runners are often associated with the American Civil War, as they were frequently used by the Confederacy to transport goods and resources across the Union blockade. They are also associated with smuggling and illegal activities.
Synonyms
Some synonyms of blockade-runner include smuggler, runner, and contrabandist.
Antonyms
There are no direct antonyms of blockade-runner, but ships that are used to enforce a blockade could be considered the opposite.
The same root words
The root words of blockade-runner are blockade and runner. Blockade refers to the act of preventing goods or resources from entering or leaving a particular area, while runner refers to a person or thing that runs or moves quickly.
Example Sentences
- During the American Civil War, blockade-runners were used to transport goods across the Union blockade.
- The smuggler used a blockade-runner to transport illegal goods across the border.
- The Navy used ships to enforce the blockade and prevent the use of blockade-runners.