vedette

American  

[vi-det] / vɪˈdɛt /

Or vidette

noun

History/Historical.

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

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

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vedette British  

/ vɪˈdɛt /

noun

1. Also called: vedette boat.  navy a small patrol vessel

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

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Etymology

Origin of vedette

First recorded in 1680–90; from French, from Italian vedetta “outlook where a sentinel is posted,” alteration of earlier veletta (of debated origin) by association with vedere “to see”; see -ette

Example Sentences

My goal was Desolation Peak, the cabin where rookie vedette Jack Kerouac spent 63 eventful days in the summer of 1956.

From The Guardian • Feb. 16, 2021

When the vedette was “discovered” by the “Esta Noche Cruzamos el Mississippi” late-night show in 1996, she introduced trans culture to living rooms across Spain.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 19, 2020

Para recibir la herencia de su tío Francisco, la vedette Rosa tiene que ingresar a estudiar en un colegio de señoritas.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 26, 2019

We perform the duties of a vedette, watching by day and night, sleeping at oddly-snatched moments, ever ready, and straining our vision in wild efforts to find trace of the foe.

From The Siege of Mafeking (1900) by Hamilton, J. Angus

I have got a man at each door as sentry, and two more on vedette back and front.

From The New Forest Spy by Evans, W.D.E.