xebec
[ zee-bek ]
/ ˈzi bɛk /
|
noun
a small, three-masted vessel of the Mediterranean, formerly much used by corsairs, now employed to some extent in commerce.
Origin of xebec
1750–60; alteration of earlier chebec < French < Catalan xabec or Spanish xabeque (now jabeque), both < Arabic shabbāk
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for xebec
British Dictionary definitions for xebec
xebec
zebec or zebeck
/ (ˈziːbɛk) /
noun
a small three-masted Mediterranean vessel with both square and lateen sails, formerly used by Algerian pirates and later used for commerce
Word Origin for xebec
C18: earlier chebec from French, ultimately from Arabic shabbāk; present spelling influenced by Catalan xabec, Spanish xabeque (now jabeque)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for xebec
xebec
"small three-masted vessel," by 1745, from French chébec, from Italian sciabecco, ultimately from Arabic shabbak "a small warship." Altered by influence of cognate Spanish xabeque, which shows the old way of representing the Spanish sound now spelled -j-.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper