convoy

American  

[kon-voi, kuhn-voi, kon-voi] / ˈkɒn vɔɪ, kənˈvɔɪ, ˈkɒn vɔɪ /

verb (used with object)

1. to accompany or escort, usually for protection.

   A destroyer convoyed the merchant ship.

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noun

1. the act of convoying.

2. the protection provided by an escort.

3. a ship, fleet, group of vehicles, etc., accompanied by a protecting escort.

4. an armed force, warship, etc., that escorts, especially for protection.

5. any group of military vehicles traveling together under the same orders.

6. Citizens Band Radio Slang. two or more CB-equipped vehicles traveling together.

convoy British  

/ ˈkɒnvɔɪ /

noun

1. a group of merchant ships with an escort of warships

2. a group of land vehicles assembled to travel together

3. the act of travelling or escorting by convoy (esp in the phrase in convoy )

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verb

1. (tr) to escort while in transit

Related Words

See accompany.

Other Word Forms

• unconvoyed adjective

Etymology

Origin of convoy

1325–75; Middle English convoyen < Middle French convoier, Anglo-French conveier to convey

Example Sentences

Experts estimate it could take two ships per tanker, or a dozen ships to guard convoys of five to 10 tankers, to have the necessary air defenses.

From The Wall Street Journal

"Even if a convoy is 90% effective, which ship owners and crew unions are prepared to play Russian roulette in one of them?" said Clarke.

From BBC

Fletcher said the UN was also trying to keep the Strait of Hormuz open in its bid to get aid convoys to sub-Saharan Africa amid a "looming famine" in the region.

From BBC

The frigate USS Samuel B. Roberts was on a routine convoy escort mission in the Persian Gulf when it struck the mine.

From The Wall Street Journal

The U.S. led a naval convoy to protect ships going through the Gulf in 1987, when the Iran-Iraq war imperiled oil flows.

From The Wall Street Journal