cruiser
UK: ˈkruːzə | US: ˈkruːzər
n. a fast warship designed for long-range missions
n. a large motorboat or yacht for leisure travel
n. (informal) a police patrol car
The word "cruiser" emerged in the 17th century, originally describing ships that "cruised" (patrolled or sailed flexibly). The Dutch root "kruisen" reflects the naval tactic of crossing waters to monitor or attack. By the 19th century, it specialized to denote fast, versatile warships. The informal use for police cars (20th century) analogizes their patrol function to naval cruising.
The navy deployed a cruiser to monitor the coastal waters.
They spent their vacation on a luxury cruiser in the Mediterranean.
The police cruiser sped through the streets with its sirens blaring.
Modern cruisers are equipped with advanced missile systems.
We chartered a small cruiser for a weekend fishing trip.