life-buoy

life-buoy (plural life-buoys)

1. Alternative form of life buoy
   • 1835 August, “The Press”, in The Meerut Universal Magazine, volume 1, number 2, page 109:

     The honorable member would however, appear to have been imbued with the spirit of Prophecy, for the contempt he so much dreaded, has fallen on the party to which he belonged, sinking the Tories to a depth that renders it beyond the power of the most gigantic talent to replace them in their former position, or restore the corruption and boroughmongering, so long the life-buoy of a dissolute ministry.

   • 1851, Herman Melville, Moby Dick:

     Here now's the very dreaded symbol of grim death, by a mere hap, made the expressive sign of the help and hope of most endangered life. A life-buoy of a coffin!

   • 1874 March, “Life-Saving Gear”, in The Nautical Magazine, volume 43, page 188:

     The life-buoy is of value just in proportion to the speed with which it can be thrown over.

   • 2009, Hall Caine, Capt'N Davy's Honeymoon, page 118:

     And so it was that when Lovibond received the letter from Jenny Crow, he rose to the cue it offered like a drowning man to a life-buoy.

   • 2014, David Stevenson, Life of Robert Stevenson, page 39:

     He immediately streamed or floated a life-buoy astern, with a line which was in readiness, and by means of this useful implement, the boat was towed alongside of the floating light, where, from the rolling motion, it required no small management to get safely on board, as the men were much worn out with their exertions in pulling from the rock.