from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
marine mine \ma*rine" mine`\, n. (Mil.)
A military explosive device designed to be placed on or under
the surface of a body of water, and to explode when ships
pass nearby or come in contact with it. Its function is to
destroy enemy ships or deny hostile naval forces access to
certain areas of the sea, usually near the shoreline. Also
called {underwater mine} and {floating mine}, and previously
referred to as a {torpedo} (See {torpedo}[2]
(a) ).
[PJC]