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DictionarycaravelExplorers' sailing ship
noun

caravel

KAIR-uh-vel/kˈɛrʌvˌɛl/

A small, fast sailing ship used by early explorers.

The wooden caravel sails across the sea beneath triangular sails.

A Portuguese-style caravel with triangular lateen sails on two or three masts sailing a blue sea, accurate wooden hull and rigging.
Etymology
caravPortuguesesmall vessel
+elPortuguesediminutive

The base meaning 'small vessel' combines with a diminutive ending to suggest a little boat. The name came to designate the compact sailing ships used by Spanish and Portuguese explorers on long voyages.

In context

Storm Rats3:35
sat shallow in the water, drawing only about 6 or 7 ft. But its agility was unmatched. While standard cargo ship might top out at [music] 3 knots, a well-built caravel could hit eight.
The Caravel: The Tiny Ship That Changed the World and Started the Age of Piracy

More examples

  • The explorer's caravel crosses the open sea.
  • Shipbuilders construct a replica caravel using historical plans.
  • Small caravels accompanied the larger vessel.

Forms

caravel · caravels

Similar words

galleon
A generally larger sailing ship used for trade or warfare.
schooner
A different sailing type defined by its rig.