Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » caravel

caravel

(kar′ə vel′)

noun

any of several kinds of fast, small sailing ships, esp. one with a narrow, high poop and lateen sails, used by the Spaniards and Portuguese in the 15th and 16th cent.

Origin: MFr < Port caravela, dim. of caravo, small vessel < LL carabus, small wicker boat covered with leather < L, kind of crab < Gr karabos

See caravel in American Heritage Dictionary 4

or car·a·velle

noun
Nautical

Any of several types of small, light sailing ships, especially one with two or three masts and lateen sails used by the Spanish and Portuguese in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Origin:

Origin: French caravelle

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Old Portuguese caravela

Origin: , diminutive of cáravo, ship

Origin: , from Late Latin cārabus, a small wicker boat

Origin: , from Late Greek kārabos, light ship

Origin: , from Greek, horned beetle

Learn more about caravel

caravel in a sentence

caravel images