gunboat

As nouns the difference between destroyer and gunboat

is that destroyer is that which destroys something while gunboat is any of various types of small armed vessel.

In nautical terms the difference between gunboat and gunship

is that gunboat is any of various types of small armed vessel while gunship is a ship equipped with heavy artillery.

Gunboat is a hyponym of sloop.

In nautical terms the difference between sloop and gunboat

is that sloop is a single-masted sailboat with only one headsail while gunboat is any of various types of small armed vessel.

As nouns the difference between taxonomy and gunboat

is that taxonomy is the science or the technique used to make a classification while gunboat is (nautical) any of various types of small armed vessel.

As nouns the difference between gunboat and cunning

is that gunboat is (nautical) any of various types of small armed vessel while cunning is (obsolete) knowledge; learning; special knowledge (sometimes implying occult or magical knowledge).

As an adjective cunning is

sly; crafty; clever in surreptitious behaviour.