cacciatorpediniere

destroyer

noun kaht-chah-tor-peh-dee-NYEH-reh Rare

Origin: Italian compound: caccia (hunt) + torpediniere (torpedo boat man)

Usage Note

Cacciatorpediniere is one of the longest words in the Italian language and is invariable in the plural — i cacciatorpediniere, not cacciatorpedinieri. It refers specifically to a fast naval warship designed to hunt torpedo boats. Use il cacciatorpediniere in the singular.

Examples

"Il cacciatorpediniere pattugliava il porto."

Natural Translation

The destroyer patrolled the harbor.

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