English

Noun

third-rate ‎(plural third-rates)

1. (military, nautical, historical) a sailing warship that can be described with the adjective "third-rate"

Adjective

third-rate ‎(not comparable)

1. of lesser value or quality than second-rate
2. (military, nautical, historical) describing a British ship-of-the-line with 64 to 80 guns divided onto two gun decks.

See also

• first-rate
• second-rate
• (military, nautical): two-decker