caravel

[ kar-uh-vel ]

/ ˈkær əˌvɛl /

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noun

a small Spanish or Portuguese sailing vessel of the Middle Ages and later, usually lateen-rigged on two or three masts.

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Also carvel.

Origin of caravel

1520–30; <Middle French car(a)velle<Portuguese caravela, equivalent to cárav(o) kind of ship (<Late Latin carabus a small wicker boat <Greek kárabos skiff, crayfish) + -ela diminutive suffix

Words nearby caravel

Caravaggio, caravan, caravanner, caravansary, caravanserai, caravel, caraway, carb, carbachol, carbamate, carbamazepine

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use caravel in a sentence

In essence, it can be surmised that the galleon design was inspired by the combination of both the maneuverability of caravels and the hefty nature of carracks, bolstered by the millennia-old tradition of shipbuilding along the Mediterranean coast.
Spanish Galleon: The Definitive Warship of the Atlantic|Dattatreya Mandal|September 18, 2022|Realm of History
In spite of his seamanship, the caravel was wrecked on the island of Cuba.
South American Fights and Fighters|Cyrus Townsend Brady
The caravel, with a crew of the strongest, was despatched for succour, and was never heard of again.
South American Fights and Fighters|Cyrus Townsend Brady
Leaves set forth, a few at a time, with a little volley of birds—a buoyant caravel.
Ceres' Runaway|Alice Meynell

Into the path traversed by the lowly caravel steamed the towering Doraine, pointing her gleaming nose to the north and east.
West Wind Drift|George Barr McCutcheon
Instead of so doing, in his fright, he rowed off to the other caravel, about half a league to windward.
Notable Voyagers|W.H.G. Kingston and Henry Frith

British Dictionary definitions for caravel

caravel

carvel

/ (ˈkærəˌvɛl) /

noun

a two- or three-masted sailing ship, esp one with a broad beam, high poop deck, and lateen rig that was used by the Spanish and Portuguese in the 15th and 16th centuries

Word Origin for caravel

C16: from Portuguese caravela, diminutive of caravo ship, ultimately from Greek karabos crab, horned beetle

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012