noun
destroyer; destroyer ship
Naval and military term for a relatively fast warship class called a destroyer in English.
駆逐艦が港に入った。
A destroyer entered the port.
その駆逐艦は艦隊を護衛した。
The destroyer escorted the fleet.
A cruiser; another class of warship, typically distinguished from 駆逐艦 by role and size.
An escort ship; in modern Japanese, especially in Self-Defense Forces contexts, this term is often used where English may say destroyer.
A Sino-Japanese compound: 駆逐 means driving away, expelling, or destroying, and 艦 means a warship. The spelling transparently describes a warship used for destroyer-type roles.