radeau

[ ruh-doh ]

noun

, plural ra·deaux [r, uh, -, doh, -, dohz].

1. an armed scow, variously rigged, used as a floating battery during the American Revolution.

Word History and Origins

Origin of radeau¹

1750–60; < French: raft < Provençal radel < Vulgar Latin *ratellus, diminutive of Latin ratis raft

Example Sentences

He therefore judged it necessary to build a brigantine, a radeau, and a sloop of 16 guns.

From Project Gutenberg

A raft called the Invincible Radeau, which carried nine twelve-pounders, led the army, and the Halifax sloop brought up the rear.

From Project Gutenberg

In this statement the radeau and gondola have not been included, because of their unmanageableness.

From Project Gutenberg

The radeau had six 24-pounders, six 12's, and two howitzers; the gondola, seven 9-pounders.

From Project Gutenberg

Then three vessels under sail, and one at anchor above Split Rock, and behind it the radeau, Thunderer.

From Project Gutenberg