An excerpt from Webster's

torpedo n : 1 : an engine or machine for destroying ships by blowing them up 2 : a dirigable self-propelling cigar-shaped submarine projectile filled with an explosive charge

torpedo boat n : a boat designed for firing torpedoes; specif. : a small very fast thinly plated boat with one or more torpedo tubes

torpedo-boat destroyer n : a large, swift, and powerfully armed torpedo boat orig. intended principally for the destruction of torpedo boats but later used as a formidable torpedo boat

For a fun party trick, read this excerpt in a deadpan German accent (this works best after several glasses of wine, and the later in the evening, the better), then tape the audience response and send it to me.

(Dictionaries are fun.)