vedette

or vi·dette

[ vi-det ]

/ vɪˈdɛt /

noun History/Historical.

Also called vedette boat. a small naval launch used for scouting.

a mounted sentry in advance of the outposts of an army.

Nearby words

Origin of vedette

1680–90; < French < Italian vedetta outlook where a sentinel is posted, alteration of earlier veletta (of debated orig.) by association with vedere to see; see -ette

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for vedette

How they crept up close to the fort and captured a vedette within two gun-shots of the gate.
Ben Comee|M. J. (Michael Joseph) Canavan
The vedette brought his short rifle to bear upon the apparition.
The Long Roll|Mary Johnston
I warned the vedette to be very careful in case he heard anything in his front, lest he fire on a friend.
Who Goes There?|Blackwood Ketcham Benson
This particular ship is merely experimental, and is known as a "Vedette."
Jane's All the World's Aircraft|Various

The troopers, veritable Uhlans this time, had posted neither sentry nor vedette in the lane.
The Day of Wrath|Louis Tracy

British Dictionary definitions for vedette

vedette

/ (vɪˈdɛt) /

noun

Also called: vedette boat navy a small patrol vessel

Also called: vidette military a mounted sentry posted forward of a formation's position

Word Origin for vedette

C17: from French, from Italian vedetta (influenced by vedere to see), from earlier veletta, perhaps from Spanish vela watch, from velar to keep vigil, from Latin vigilāre

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

Word Origin and History for vedette

vedette

"mounted sentinel placed in advance of an outpost," 1680s, from French vedette, from Italian vedetta, probably from vedere "to see" (see vista).