xebec
[zee-bek]
- a small, three-masted vessel of the Mediterranean, formerly much used by corsairs, now employed to some extent in commerce.
Show More
Origin of xebec
1750–60; alteration of earlier chebec < French < Catalan xabec or Spanish xabeque (now jabeque), both < Arabic shabbāk
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for xebec
Historical Examples
On the 31st of October he gave chase to a xebec trying to get into the harbor.
Twelve Naval CaptainsMolly Elliot Seawell
One is a polacre, another a xebec, and the third looks like a full-rigged craft; but as she is end on, I can't say for certain.
Held Fast For EnglandG. A. Henty
That big fellow has got twelve on a side, the polacre has eight, and the xebec six, so between them they have fifty-two guns.
Held Fast For EnglandG. A. Henty
Decatur spoke as if he meant what he said, and the officers of the xebec did not want to lose their ears.
Stories of Our Naval HeroesVarious
Equivalent to our hermaphrodite, being a small Mediterranean vessel, between a xebec and a felucca.
The Sailor's Word-BookWilliam Henry Smyth
xebec
zebec or zebeck
- a small three-masted Mediterranean vessel with both square and lateen sails, formerly used by Algerian pirates and later used for commerce
Show More
Word Origin
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
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for xebec
n.
"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-.
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper