Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Corvette
{
Cor′vet
(k?r′v?t)
, Cor-vette′
(k?r-v?r′)
, } Noun.
[F.
corvette
, fr. Pg. corveta
or Sp. corbeta
, fr. L. corbita
a slow-sailing ship of burden, fr, corbis
basket. Cf. Corbeil
.] (Naut.)
A war vessel, ranking next below a frigate, and having usually only one tier of guns; – called in the United States navy a
sloop of war
. Definition 2024
Corvette
Corvette
See also: corvette
English
Noun
Corvette (plural Corvettes)
- A sports car, manufactured by Chevrolet from 1953 to present, an American icon.
corvette
corvette
See also: Corvette
English
Alternative forms
- corvet (rare)
Noun
corvette (plural corvettes)
- (nautical, historical) A flush-decked warship of the 17th-18th centuries having a single tier of guns; it ranked next below a frigate; -- called in the United States navy a sloop of war.
- (nautical) In a modern navy, a lightly armed and armoured blue water warship, smaller than a frigate, capable of transoceanic duty.
Derived terms
- Corvette
- corvette captain
Translations
warship of 17th-18th century
modern warship
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French
Etymology
From Middle Dutch korf, korver (“a kind of ship”), or Middle Low German korf (“a kind of ship and basket”), + -ette. Possibly ultimately connected to Latin corbita (navis), "slow-sailing ship of burden, grain ship," which is from corbis.
Noun
corvette f (plural corvettes)