vidette

[ vi-det ]

/ vɪˈdɛt /

noun

vedette.

Nearby words

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.

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 vidette

At another time it became again my lot to go on vidette duty.
Memoirs of a Veteran Who Served as a Private in the 60's in the War Between the States|Isaac Hermann
The army of mountaineers halted at Gilbert-town only until a vidette from Williams brought tidings of Ferguson's late movements.
Horse-Shoe Robinson|John Pendleton Kennedy
A vidette dashed into the village with the news at midnight.
Peggy Owen and Liberty|Lucy Foster Madison
Yes, and unless his own ears had deceived him, he caught some sort of rustling sound up yonder where the vidette had his post.
The Saddle Boys at Circle Ranch|James Carson

The rest of us descended, and after looking to the muffling of our horses, returned to the station of the vidette upon the hill.
The Scalp Hunters|Mayne Reid

British Dictionary definitions for vidette

vidette

/ (vɪˈdɛt) /

noun

a variant spelling of 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 vidette

vidette

1680s, from French vidette, from Italian (Florentine) vedetta "watch tower, peep hole," from vedere "to see" (see vista).

vedette

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