xebec

[ zee-bek ]

noun
  1. a small, three-masted vessel of the Mediterranean, formerly much used by corsairs, now employed to some extent in commerce.

Origin of xebec

1
1750–60; alteration of earlier chebec<French <Catalan xabec or Spanish xabeque (now jabeque), both <Arabic shabbāk

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British Dictionary definitions for xebec

xebec

zebec or zebeck

/ (ˈziːbɛk) /


noun
  1. a small three-masted Mediterranean vessel with both square and lateen sails, formerly used by Algerian pirates and later used for commerce

Origin of xebec

1
C18: earlier chebec from French, ultimately from Arabic shabbāk; present spelling influenced by Catalan xabec, Spanish xabeque (now jabeque)

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