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

veda, vedalia, vedanta, vedda, veddoid, vedette, vedic, vee, veeck, veejay, veena

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