Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a diseased prostitute.

[1654		Mercurius Fumigosus 13 23–30 Aug. I 20: These Veneriall Pieces of Damnation [should be] shipped away into New England, especially being so light a Commoditie, that they need not much fear casting away; if they avoid but one mischief, that is, firing the Ship].
1665		Head Eng. Rogue I 363: I boarded her [...] mistake me not, I rummag’d not in her Hold, fearing she was a Fire-ship.
1668		‘P.R.’ Whores Dialogue 2: [It] would not suffer us poor, weak vessels to be boarded by them, notwithstanding many of us were fire-ships.
1672		Wycherley Love in a Wood II i: Are you not a Fireship? a Punk, Madam?
1687		‘Julian’s Farewell’ in Wilson Court Satires of the Restoration (1976) 201: Young men from this fireship keep yourselves free.
1691		Catalogue of Jilts, cracks, prostitutes, night-walkers [...] and others of the linnen-lifting tribe 2: Mrs Peggy L—ly, a sly insinuating Crack [...] her whole Cargo, with Topsails and Rigging, are hardly worth 10 shillings; but beware of her lower tire [i.e. tier], for several havee to their sorrow found her a Fire-ship.
1704		J. Dunton Athenian Spy 306: The Port-Holes are all up. The Tombkins out, primed, matched, ready. The little Fireship of a Woman opens her Lips ... There is no Remedy unless you get out of Gun-shot, but she has ye between Wind and Water, rakes ye fore and aft, and down you go to the Deep.
1707		N. Ward Barbacue Feast 17: The Commander’s Lamentation for the Loss of his Rudder, [...] or, The Sea-Captain Burnt by a Wapping-Fireship.
1710		C. Shadwell Fair Quaker of Deal III ii: I’d have you take care who you ravish [...] I don’t care to attack a Fireship.
1725		New Canting Dict. n.p.: Fire-ship, a Pockey Whore.
1738		Swift Polite Conversation 72: Damn your Fireships; I have a Wife of my own.
1748		Smollett Roderick Random (1979) 134: At that instant, a sea lieutenant came in, and seeing my plight, began to inquire into the circumstances of my misfortune; when this wit advised him to keep clear of me, for I was a fire-ship.
1754		Scoundrel’s Dict. 27: Born Beggars all thou dost excel, / Thy Swipestakes still shall bear the Bell, / No fireship yet abroad it fell.
1761		Memoirs of [...] Jane D****s 70: He paid down the ten guineas, and went to bed with his fireship.
1781		Hicky’s Bengal Gaz. 1-8 Sept. n.p.: D—n my E—s if [...] my Heart was not strained with Joy to hear that you had steered clear of all Fire ships.
1785		‘Roger Ranger’ Covent Garden Jester 30: A fine madam meeting him in the street, earnestly entreated the favour of a glass of wine, the baronet cursing her for a silly whore, said, He was well content with one fireship in a day.
1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
1800		‘Jolly Jack of Dover’ in Jovial Songster 77: Perhaps you’re a French fire ship, so sink me if I speak ye.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1823		‘Jon Bee’ Dict. of the Turf, the Ring, the Chase, etc.
1843		Satirist & Sporting Chron. (Sydney) 25 Mar. 3/4: [used of a man] He gave her his snuff Box, and she gave him something else in return — sarved him out in another way! — Ladies avoid him as you would the firy tail of the Comet or a fire ship — his approach is equally dangerous.
1855		Yokel’s Preceptor 9: She is a good-looking piece when dressed, and got the slap on, but as regular a fireship as ever sailed the coast. Take care of her!
1896		Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 40: Boite a vérole = a foundered whore; ‘a fire-ship’.
1900		in E. Cray Erotic Muse (1992) 69: I played with her for quite some time, and learned to my surprise, / She was nothing but a fire ship rigged up in a disguise.

2. a conspicuously red-faced individual.

1673

M. Stevenson Norfolk Drollery 96: His bow-dyed Flag in the Red-squadron place, / But he show’d a Fireship by his face].