ship in a bottle UK /ˌʃɪp ɪn ə ˈbɒtl̩/US /ˌʃɪp ɪn ə ˈbɑtəl/ noun1 •An ornament consisting of a model ship inside a glass bottle, usually one with a narrow neck which makes it difficult to see how the ship was put in place. formsships in a bottle · ships in bottles