ˈkarəˌvel, -_vəl noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French caravelle, carvelle, from Old Portuguese caravela, diminutive of cáravo, a ship, from Late Latin carabus coraclelike boat, from Latin, a sea crab, from Greek karabos, a sea crab, a horned beetle; probably akin to Greek karis, a sea crab — more at -caris
: any of several sailing vessels: as
a. : a small vessel of the 15th and 16th centuries with broad bows, high narrow poop, three or four masts, and usually lateen sails on the two or three aftermasts
the caravels of Columbus
b. : a Portuguese vessel of 100 to 150 tons burden
c. : a small fishing boat used on the French coast
d. : a Turkish man-of-war
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