Gunboat (noun)

1. A small, shallow-draft vessel armed with one or more artillery pieces.
2. A shallow-draft boat or ship armed with one or more artillery pieces, used for coastal defense or attacking enemy ships.

Origin:

Compound word gun + boat, from the presence of one or more artillery pieces mounted on a boat.

Examples:

1. The gunboat patrolled the coast, looking for enemy ships.
2. The enemy fleet was forced to retreat when the gunboat arrived with reinforcements.
3. A gunboat is a small, shallow-draft vessel armed with one or more artillery pieces.
4. Gunboats are typically used for coastal defense or attacking enemy ships.
5. Gunboats are also known as river gunboats, coastal gunboats, or simply gunvessels.