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mosquito fleet

American  

noun

  1. a group or fleet of PT boats or other small, armed boats.


Etymology

Origin of mosquito fleet

First recorded in 1795–1805


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

At the time, the modest island resort, formerly a mosquito fleet terminal and later a laundromat, was a stop along the Northwest version of the hippie trail.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 1, 2023

It dates to 1951, when the state took over operations from the Puget Sound Navigation Co., one of the surviving companies from the early days of Puget Sound’s privately owned mosquito fleet.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 5, 2022

Once upon a time, an armada of small ships ferried freight and passengers across the many waters surrounding Seattle, and it was called the mosquito fleet.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 29, 2022

Frustrated fishermen took to the seas, marshaling what they called the "mosquito fleet" of skiffs and small boats loaded with buckets and hand-skimmers that launched off a state ferry press-ganged into service.

From Reuters ● May 6, 2010

But the smaller steamers and gunboats of the "mosquito fleet" went in, and the town was surrendered without firing a shot.

From The Naval History of the United States Volume 2 by W. C. Jackson

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