. (Nav.) A man-of-war carrying a large coal supply, and more or less protected from the enemy's shot by iron or steel armor. There is no distinct and accepted classification distinguishing armored and protected cruisers from each other, except that the first have more or heavier armor than the second. [ Archaic ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. See Cruse, a small bottle. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Cruised p. pr. & vb. n. Cruising. ] [ D. kruisen to move crosswise or in a zigzag, to cruise, fr. kruis cross, fr. OF. crois, croiz, F. croix, or directly fr. OF. croisier, F. croiser, to cross, cruise, fr. crois a cross. See Cross. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To sail back and forth on the ocean; to sail, as for the protection of commerce, in search of an enemy, for plunder, or for pleasure. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ A ship cruises in any particular sea or ocean; as, in the Baltic or in the Atlantic. She cruises off any cape; as, off the Lizard; off Ushant. She cruises on a coast; as, on the coast of Africa. A pirate cruises to seize vessels; a yacht cruises for the pleasure of the owner. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ships of war were sent to cruise near the isle of Bute. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

'Mid sands, and rocks, and storms to cruise for pleasure. Young. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To wander hither and thither on land. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Forestry) To inspect forest land for the purpose of estimating the quantity of lumber it will yield. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

4. To travel primarily for pleasure, or without any fixed purpose, rather than with the main goal of reaching a particular destination. To cruise the streets of town, looking for an interesting party to crash. [ PJC ]

v. t. 1. To cruise over or about. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. (Forestry) To explore with reference to capacity for the production of lumber; as, to cruise a section of land. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. 1. A voyage made in various directions, as of an armed vessel, for the protection of other vessels, or in search of an enemy; a sailing to and fro, as for exploration or for pleasure. [ 1913 Webster ]

He feigned a compliance with some of his men, who were bent upon going a cruise to Manilla. Dampier. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence: A voyage aboard a ship, in which the activities on the ship itself form a major objective of the voyage; -- used particularly of vacation voyages, or voyages during which some special activity occurs on board the ship, such as a series of seminars. [ PJC ]

n. One who, or a vessel that, cruises; Specif.: (Nav.) A man-of-war less heavily armed and armored than a battle ship, having great speed, and generally of from two thousand to twelve thousand tons displacement. [ 1913 Webster + Webster 1913 Suppl. ]