"The Dressed Ship" is an English Country dance tune in cut time and A major. It is also known in New England as a polka. The tune first appeared in print in Charles and Samuel Thompson's Twenty Four Country Dances for the Year 1774 and their Compleat Collection of 200 Country Dances, vol. 4 (London, 1780), where it appears as a longways dance 'for as many as will'. A 'dressed ship' is one that has been decorated with signal flags and other pennants, usually for a ceremony or celebration. A 'dressed ship' display employs smaller ensigns than does a 'full-dressed ship'. It was printed in Barnes's English Country Dance Tunes (1986), Fleming-Williams & Shaw's English Dance Airs; Popular Selection, Book 1 (1965), Karpeles & Schofield's A Selection of 100 English Folk Dance Airs (1951), Miller & Perron's 101 Polkas (1978) and Raven's English Country Dance Tunes (1984).