frigate

noun

frig·​ate ˈfri-gət 

1

: a light boat propelled originally by oars but later by sails

2

: a square-rigged war vessel intermediate between a corvette and a ship of the line

3

: a modern warship that is smaller than a destroyer

Did you know?

In the 17th–19th centuries, a frigate was a three-masted, fully rigged sailing ship, often carrying 30–40 guns in all. Smaller and faster than ships of the line (the principal vessels of naval warfare), frigates served as scouts or as escorts protecting merchant convoys; they also cruised the seas as merchant raiders themselves. In World War II, Britain revived the term frigate using it to describe escort ships equipped with sonar and depth charges, and used these ships to guard convoys from submarines. In the postwar decades, the frigate also adopted an antiaircraft role, adding radar and surface-to-air missiles. Modern frigates can sail at a speed of 30 knots and carry a crew of 200.

Examples of frigate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Reuters/Alexandre Meneghini Cuba's Foreign Ministry had identified the Russian ships as the frigate Admiral Gorshkov, the fleet oil tanker Pashin and the salvage tug Nikolai Chiker. —Alex Sundby, CBS News, 12 June 2024

In the Gulf of Guinea, Ghanaian, Libyan and Tunisian commandos roped down from assault helicopters to seize stand-in terrorist leaders aboard an Italian frigate in a mock maritime raid. —Ruth MacLean, New York Times, 7 June 2024

The Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces said the Russian missile frigate Admiral Gorshkov, the nuclear sub Kazan, the oil tanker Pashin and the salvage tug Nikolai Chiker will arrive on June 12 and stay for a week. —Nora Gamez Torres, Miami Herald, 6 June 2024

Up to 20 frigates are expected to be built, some of which will be homeported in San Diego. —Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, from Old Italian fregata

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing frigate

• frigate bird

Kids Definition

frigate

noun

frig·​ate ˈfrig-ət 

1

: a medium-sized square-rigged warship

2

: a modern warship that is smaller than a destroyer and that is used for escort and patrol duties