Phrase guide

East Indiaman

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

Any ship operating under charter or licence to one of the East India Companies, which were each granted monopoly trading rights with the East Indies by one of several of the major trading powers of the 17th–19th centuries.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: historical

Examples

  • 1833, A History of Shipwrecks, and Disasters at Sea, from the Most Authentic Sources, Volume 2, Constable's Miscellany of Original and Selected Publications, Volume 79, page 183, Thb shipwreck of the Grovesnor East Indiaman, in 1782, on her homeward-bound voyage from Ceylon, was attended with circumstances of more than common interest.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From East India + -man.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Danish: kinafarer — ship sailing for a European East India company
  • Polish: eastindiaman — ship sailing for a European East India company