CB

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: CBs

Sense 1

Meaning · English

The United States Navy hull classification symbol for a large cruiser.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

confined to barracks (a punishment in the army).

Adjective

Examples

‘Twenty days C.B.,’ said one. ‘Twenty years, more likely,’ said another.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “CB” mean?

The United States Navy hull classification symbol for a large cruiser.

Is “CB” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.