LAUNCH (3)

Launch, n. 1. 1. The act of launching.
2. 2. The movement of a vessel from land into the water; especially, the sliding on ways from the stocks on which it is built.
3. 3. [[Cf. Sp. lancha.]] (Naut.) The boat of the largest size belonging to a ship of war; also, an open boat of any size driven by steam, naphtha, electricity, or the like.
Launching ways. (Naut.) See Way, n. (Naut.).