corvette
noun
cor·vette kȯr-ˈvet 
1
: a warship ranking in the old sailing navies next below a frigate
2
: a highly maneuverable armed escort ship that is smaller than a destroyer
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The Danish Defense Command said that a Russian corvette sailed into Denmark’s territorial waters north of the island of Christiansø. 
Amy Cheng, Washington Post, 18 June 2022 In March 2010, one of North Korea’s five Yono boats attacked the South Korean corvette Cheonan, sinking it and killing 46 sailors. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 5 Apr. 2022 In March 2010, one of North Korea’s five Yono boats attacked the South Korean corvette Cheonan, sinking it and killing 46 sailors. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 5 Apr. 2022 In March 2010, one of North Korea’s five Yono boats attacked the South Korean corvette Cheonan, sinking it and killing 46 sailors. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 5 Apr. 2022 The median vessel is a corvette displacing just 1,000 tons. David Axe, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2021 With its modest fuel capacity and marginal seakeeping, a PLAN corvette isn’t suitable for long-range operations. David Axe, Forbes, 8 Nov. 2021 One involved a Polish warship following the exact same track, speed, and course as a Swedish corvette five days earlier, another indication for Bergman that the tracks are digitally generated. Mark Harris, Wired, 29 July 2021 Although not part of Liaoning’s strike group, the Type 056A corvette is the remaining key pillar of PLAN naval power. Sebastien Roblin, Forbes, 20 Apr. 2021 See More
Amy Cheng, Washington Post, 18 June 2022 In March 2010, one of North Korea’s five Yono boats attacked the South Korean corvette Cheonan, sinking it and killing 46 sailors. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 5 Apr. 2022 In March 2010, one of North Korea’s five Yono boats attacked the South Korean corvette Cheonan, sinking it and killing 46 sailors. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 5 Apr. 2022 In March 2010, one of North Korea’s five Yono boats attacked the South Korean corvette Cheonan, sinking it and killing 46 sailors. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 5 Apr. 2022 The median vessel is a corvette displacing just 1,000 tons. David Axe, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2021 With its modest fuel capacity and marginal seakeeping, a PLAN corvette isn’t suitable for long-range operations. David Axe, Forbes, 8 Nov. 2021 One involved a Polish warship following the exact same track, speed, and course as a Swedish corvette five days earlier, another indication for Bergman that the tracks are digitally generated. Mark Harris, Wired, 29 July 2021 Although not part of Liaoning’s strike group, the Type 056A corvette is the remaining key pillar of PLAN naval power. Sebastien Roblin, Forbes, 20 Apr. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
French, from Middle French, probably from Middle Dutch corf, a kind of ship, literally, basket — more at corf
First Known Use
1636, in the meaning defined at sense 1
corvette
noun
as in frigate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- frigate
- yacht
- sloop
- schooner
- sailer
- caravel
- bugeye
- catamaran
- catboat
- lugger
- galleon
- brigantine
- yawl
- keelboat
- cutter
- ketch
- sailboat
- clipper
- pinnace
- xebec
- outrigger
- piragua
- sharpie
- junk
- galley
- dinghy
- shallop
- windjammer
- square-rigger
- cat rig
- caïque
- knockabout
- sharpy
- bark
- vessel
- craft
- bottom