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lightship

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light⋅ship

[lahyt-ship]
–noun
a ship anchored in a specific location and displaying or flashing a very bright light for the guidance of ships, as in avoiding dangerous areas. Abbreviation: LS

Origin:
1830–40; light 1 + ship
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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light·ship   (līt'shĭp')   
n.  A ship with a powerful light or warning signals that is anchored in dangerous waters to alert other vessels.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Encyclopedia

lightship

marine navigation and warning beacon stationed where lighthouse construction is impractical. The first lightship was the Nore (1732), stationed in the estuary of the River Thames in England. Modern lightships are small, unattended vessels equipped with fog signals, radio beacons, and gimbal devices for keeping the navigational light beam horizontal in rough weather. Their names are marked in large letters for easy daytime recognition

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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