火か船せん

noun

fire ship

Historical naval term for a vessel set on fire and sent into an enemy fleet. Both readings かせん and ひぶね can be used, but かせん is more common in historical contexts.

• 戦せん国ごく時じ代だいの海かい戦せんでは火か船せんが使つかわれた。

  Fire ships were used in naval battles during the Warring States period.

noun

steamship; steamboat

Only with reading かせん

Refers to a steam-powered vessel, especially a paddle steamer. This sense is restricted to the reading かせん and is now largely historical.

• 明めい治じ時じ代だい、火か船せんが外がい国こくとの貿ぼう易えきに使つかわれた。

  In the Meiji period, steamships were used for trade with foreign countries.

noun

fire-lit fishing boat

Only with reading ひぶね

A boat that used an open fire to attract fish during night net fishing, before electric lights were introduced. This sense is restricted to the reading ひぶね.

• 昔むかしの漁りょう師しは火ひ船ぶねで魚さかなを集あつめた。

  Fishermen in the past gathered fish using fire-lit boats.