timberclad

English

Etymology

From timber +‎ clad.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈtɪmbə(ɹ)ˌklæd/

Adjective

timberclad (not comparable)

1. Covered or sheathed with timber; having an exterior layer of wood.
   • 1908, Geologisches Centralblatt [Geological Review], volume X, Leipzig: VERLAG VON GEBRÜDER BORNTRAEGER, page 104:

     Prof. Shimek, who has studied the fossils and argues strongly for the eolian origin, says the shells found at Council Bluffs, Iowa and at other points were denizens of timberclad hills.

   • 1924 May, “Reminiscences from 1841 of William Kyle, a Pioneer”, in THE VICTORIAN HISTORICAL MAGAZINE, volume X, number 1, THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA, page 159:

     At this time the streets of Melbourne were unformed, gum trees covered the present site of the city, timberclad slopes extended down to the Yarra, which was then a pleasant unpolluted stream.

   • 1928 August, JUDGE GEORGE W WOOD, “Trips Afield with Boys”, in Outdoor America, volume VII, number 1, page 38:

     For instance, when I go to Manchester where I hold court I cross a small stream which runs under a railroad bridge and then is lost behind timberclad hills.

2. (historical, nautical) Describing a warship armored with thick wooden planks for protection, especially during the American Civil War.
   • 2001, Louis S. Gerteis, Civil War St. Louis, illustrated edition, University Press of Kansas, page 243:

     Three timberclad gunboats also joined the federal flotilla as escorts for the troop transports.

   • 2010, Myron J. Smith, Jr., Tinclads in the Civil War: Union Light-Draught Gunboat Operations on Western Waters, 1862-1865, illustrated edition, illustrated, page 36:

     Although the timberclad gunboats, the first units in the Western Flotilla, performed well, there were too few of them to accomplish all the missions required: Army support, counterinsurgency, convoy protection, patrol, communications, and coast guard.

   • 2025 March 12, Wikipedia contributors, “Timberclad warship”, in English Wikipedia‎, Wikimedia Foundation:

     A timberclad warship is a kind of mid 19th century river gunboat.

Alternative forms

• timber-clad

Noun

timberclad (plural timberclads)

English Wikipedia has an article on:

timberclad

Wikipedia

1. (nautical, historical) A timberclad warship.
   • 2014, Myron J. Smith, Jr., The Fight for the Yazoo, August 1862-July 1864: Swamps, Forts and Fleets on Vicksburg's Northern Flank, illustrated edition, McFarland, page 108:

     Small boats from the timberclad, under the direction of her executive officer Acting Volunteer Lt. Martin Dunn, were actively enggaged in the hunt for torpedoes all morning.

Hypernyms

• warship
• gunboat

Related terms

• ironclad
• cottonclad