merchant-ships

So the design succeeded, and the attention of the Athenians was diverted from the merchant-ships to the triremes.

The History of the Peloponnesian War Thucydides 2007

For the transport of provisions thirty merchant-ships, which also conveyed bakers, masons, carpenters, and tools such as are required in sieges, were included in the armament.

The History of the Peloponnesian War Thucydides 2007

The fleet of merchant-ships through which we passed was not without an interest.

The Englishwoman in America 2007

England and France at that time; the French privateers were for ever on the look-out for British merchant-ships, and seized them often within sight of port.

The Virginians 2006

They were, however, well fed, being apparently even better dieted than the generality of merchant-ships; the bread was of a better quality, and the allowance of butter, cheese, beans, and other little luxuries much more liberal.

Journals of expeditions of discovery into Central Australia, and overland from Adelaide to King George's Sound, in the years 1840-1 2004

From the tops of the hills on this extremity of the land you may see out into that they call the Chops of the Channel, which, as it is the greatest inlet of commerce, and the most frequented by merchant-ships of any place in the world, so one seldom looks out to seaward but something new presents — that is to say, of ships passing or repassing, either on the great or lesser

From London to Land's End 2003

French men-of-war and two English, with a privateer and three merchant-ships in their company.

From London to Land's End 2003

They tell us of eleven sail of merchant-ships homeward bound, and richly laden from the southward, who had the like fate in the same place a great many years ago; and that some of them coming from Spain, and having a great quantity of bullion or pieces of eight on board, the money frequently drives on shore still, and that in good quantities, especially after stormy weather.

From London to Land's End 2003

The English had the misfortune, not only to be fewer ships of war in number, but of less force; so that while the two biggest French ships engaged the English, the third in the meantime took the two merchant-ships and went off with them.

From London to Land's End 2003

As to the picaroon or privateer, she was able to do little in the matter, not daring to come so near the men-of-war as to take a broadside, which her thin sides would not have been able to bear, but would have sent her to the bottom at once; so that the English men-of-war had no assistance from her, nor could she prevent the taking the two merchant-ships.

From London to Land's End 2003