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.

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