Brig vs. Ship — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 31, 2023
A Brig is a specific two-masted sailing vessel, while a Ship refers broadly to a large watercraft.
Difference Between Brig and Ship
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A Brig is a term specifically used in the nautical world. It defines a vessel with two square-rigged masts. On the other hand, the word Ship is a more general term and can be used to describe a large watercraft, irrespective of its type or design.
In maritime language, while every Brig is a Ship, not every Ship is a Brig. This is because a Ship can belong to multiple categories, such as schooners, frigates, or tankers.
In summary, while a Brig is a particular type of Ship, the word Ship encompasses a vast range of large sea vessels.
The Brig has a very distinctive structure, with its two masts being its most distinguishing feature. Comparatively, a Ship might come in various sizes and structures, from cargo ships to passenger ships and beyond.
Comparison Chart
Definition
A two-masted sailing vessel.
A large watercraft designed for ocean transport.
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Masts
Two masts, typically square-rigged.
Can have any number of masts or none (modern ships).
Size
Generally smaller.
Varies, usually larger than a Brig.
Usage
Specific to certain sail designs.
Broad term covering all large water vessels.
Types
A type of Ship.
Includes types like tankers, cargo, passenger, etc.
Compare with Definitions
Brig
A type of warship.
The British navy used the Brig for patrolling coastal waters.
Ship
A large water vessel designed for ocean transport.
The Ship carried goods from Europe to Asia.
Brig
A ship's prison.
The pirate was confined to the Brig for insubordination.
Ship
A ship is a large watercraft that travels the world's oceans and other sufficiently deep waterways, carrying goods or passengers, or in support of specialized missions, such as defense, research, and fishing. Ships are generally distinguished from boats, based on size, shape, load capacity, and tradition.
Brig
A reference to a rigid structure in nautical design.
The Brig's design made it faster in specific wind conditions.
Ship
A vessel of considerable size for deep-water navigation.
Brig
An abbreviation for Brigantine.
He always dreamed of owning a Brig and exploring distant shores.
Ship
A sailing vessel having three or more square-rigged masts.
Brig
A two-masted sailing vessel, typically square-rigged.
The Brig sailed smoothly across the horizon.
Ship
An aircraft or spacecraft.
Brig
A brig is a type of sailing vessel defined by its rig: two masts which are both square-rigged. Brigs originated in the second half of the 18th century and were a common type of smaller merchant vessel or warship from then until the latter part of the 19th century.
Ship
The crew of one of these vessels.
Brig
A two-masted sailing vessel, square-rigged on both masts.
Ship
One's fortune
When my ship comes in, I'll move to a larger house.
Brig
A jail or prison on board a US Navy or Coast Guard vessel.
Ship
To place or receive on board a ship
Shipped the cargo in the hold.
Brig
A jail or guardhouse, especially on the premises of a US military installation.
Ship
To cause to be transported; send.
Brig
(watercraft) A two-masted vessel, square-rigged on both foremast and mainmast
Ship
(nautical) A water-borne vessel generally larger than a boat.
Brig
(US) A jail or guardhouse, especially in a naval military prison or jail on a ship, navy base, or (in fiction) spacecraft.
Ship
A vessel which travels through any medium other than across land, such as an airship or spaceship.
Brig
Bridge.
Ship
A spaceship (the type of pattern in a cellular automaton).
Brig
Brigadier.
Ship
A sailing vessel with three or more square-rigged masts.
Brig
A bridge.
Ship
A dish or utensil (originally fashioned like the hull of a ship) used to hold incense.
Brig
A two-masted, square-rigged vessel.
Ship
(cartomancy) The third card of the Lenormand deck.
Brig
On a United States man-of-war, the prison or place of confinement for offenders.
Ship
(dated) An aircraft.
Brig
Two-masted sailing vessel square-rigged on both masts
Ship
(fandom) A fictional romantic relationship between two characters, either real or themselves fictional, especially one explored in fan fiction.
Brig
A penal institution (especially on board a ship)
Ship
(transitive) To send by water-borne transport.
Ship
(transitive) To send (a parcel or container) to a recipient (by any means of transport).
To ship freight by railroad
Ship
(ambitransitive) To release a product (not necessarily physical) to vendors or customers; to launch.
Our next issue ships early next year.
It compiles? Ship it!
Ship
(ambitransitive) To engage to serve on board a vessel.
To ship seamen
I shipped on a man-of-war.
Ship
(intransitive) To embark on a ship.
Ship
To put or secure in its place.
To ship the tiller or rudder
Ship
(transitive) To take in (water) over the sides of a vessel.
We were shipping so much water I was sure we would capsize.
Ship
Leave, depart, scram.
Ship
To pass (from one person to another).
Can you ship me the ketchup?
Ship
To go all in.
Ship
(sports) To trade or send a player to another team.
Twins ship Delmon Young to Tigers.
Ship
(rugby) To bungle a kick and give the opposing team possession.
Ship
(fandom) To support or approve of a fictional romantic relationship between two characters, typically in fan fiction or other fandom contexts.
I ship Kirk and Spock in “Star Trek”.
I ship Peggy and Angie in “Marvel's Agent Carter”.
Ship
Pay; reward.
In withholding or abridging of the ship or the hire or the wages of servants.
Ship
Any large seagoing vessel.
Like a stately ship . . . With all her bravery on, and tackle trim,Sails filled, and streamers waving.
Thou, too, sail on, O Ship of State!
Ship
Specifically, a vessel furnished with a bowsprit and three masts (a mainmast, a foremast, and a mizzenmast), each of which is composed of a lower mast, a topmast, and a topgallant mast, and square-rigged on all masts. See Illustation in Appendix.
Ship
A dish or utensil (originally fashioned like the hull of a ship) used to hold incense.
Ship
To put on board of a ship, or vessel of any kind, for transportation; to send by water.
The timber was . . . shipped in the bay of Attalia, from whence it was by sea transported to Pelusium.
Ship
By extension, in commercial usage, to commit to any conveyance for transportation to a distance; as, to ship freight by railroad.
Ship
Hence, to send away; to get rid of.
Ship
To engage or secure for service on board of a ship; as, to ship seamen.
Ship
To receive on board ship; as, to ship a sea.
Ship
To put in its place; as, to ship the tiller or rudder.
Ship
To engage to serve on board of a vessel; as, to ship on a man-of-war.
Ship
To embark on a ship.
Ship
A vessel that carries passengers or freight
Ship
Transport commercially
Ship
Hire for work on a ship
Ship
Go on board
Ship
Travel by ship
Ship
Place on board a ship;
Ship the cargo in the hold of the vessel
Ship
To transport or send goods by sea.
We'll Ship the package tomorrow.
Ship
A term used in fandoms to support or wish for two characters to be in a romantic relationship.
Many fans Ship the two lead characters.
Ship
A vessel with a specific purpose or design.
A cruise Ship offers luxurious accommodations and entertainment.
Ship
To commit, especially in a relationship context.
He was ready to Ship, but she wasn't sure.
Common Curiosities
How is a Brig different from a Ship?
A Brig is a specific type of Ship with two masts, while "Ship" is a broader term for large watercraft.
What is a Brig?
A Brig is a two-masted sailing vessel, typically square-rigged.
Are all Brigs Ships?
Yes, all Brigs are Ships, but not all Ships are Brigs.
What does it mean to "Ship" two characters in fandoms?
To "Ship" two characters means to support or wish for them to be in a romantic relationship.
Can the term "Ship" be used as a verb?
Yes, "Ship" can mean to transport or send goods by sea.
Are modern Ships still built with masts?
Most modern Ships, especially cargo and passenger ships, don't have masts in the traditional sense. Masts, if present, are often for equipment and antennas.
How many masts does a typical Ship have?
Ships can vary in the number of masts, from none (modern ships) to multiple.
Is every large boat considered a Ship?
Not necessarily. The distinction between boats and Ships is often based on size and purpose.
Is the term "Brig" used outside of maritime contexts?
Yes, "Brig" can also refer to a ship's prison.
What's the difference between a Brig and a schooner?
Both are sailing vessels, but a Brig has two square-rigged masts, while a schooner has fore-and-aft rigged sails.
Can a Ship have two masts like a Brig?
Yes, a Ship can have two masts, but that doesn't necessarily make it a Brig.
Can a Brig be used in war?
Yes, Brigs were historically used as warships in some naval fleets.
What is a ship's Brig used for?
A ship's Brig is used as a prison or confinement area onboard.
Can "Ship" also refer to commitment in a relationship?
Yes, in informal contexts, "Ship" can refer to committing or being serious in a relationship.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
