frigate

[ frig-it ]

noun

1. a fast naval vessel of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, generally having a lofty ship rig and heavily armed on one or two decks.
2. any of various types of modern naval vessels ranging in size from a destroyer escort to a cruiser, frequently armed with guided missiles and used for aircraft carrier escort duty, shore bombardment, and miscellaneous combat functions.

frigate

/ ˈfrɪɡɪt /

noun

1. a medium-sized square-rigged warship of the 18th and 19th centuries
2. 1. a warship larger than a corvette and smaller than a destroyer
   2. (formerly) a warship larger than a destroyer and smaller than a cruiser
   3. a small escort vessel

Word History and Origins

Origin of frigate¹

1575–85; < Middle French frégate < Italian fregata, Sicilian fragata (> Spanish, Catalan, Pg); of obscure origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of frigate¹

C16: from French frégate , from Italian fregata , of unknown origin

Example Sentences

In March 2010 a North Korean submarine, without cause, torpedoed the Cheonan, a South Korean frigate.

From The Daily Beast

The Portuguese frigate Cine captured by the Algerines, after a smart action.

From Project Gutenberg

Desperate engagement between an Algerine cruiser of 18 guns, well manned, and a Corsican frigate of 26 nine and twelve pounders.

From Project Gutenberg

He therefore fitted five out of near thirty small prizes to accompany him, and built a galley frigate to land with.

From Project Gutenberg

Governor Letcher of Virginia ordered that this ship be raised and be converted into an effective, usable frigate.

From Project Gutenberg

There is good reason to believe that we have taken the Iphigenie, a French frigate.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• sailboat
• ship
• vessel
• warship