SINCE 1828

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argosy

noun ar·go·sy \ ˈär-gə-sē \

Definition of argosy

plural argosies

1 : a large ship; especially : a large merchant ship

three of your argosies are … come to harbor
—William Shakespeare

2 : a fleet of ships

3 : a rich supply

an argosy of railway folklore
—F. P. Donovan

See argosy defined for kids

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Examples of argosy in a Sentence

a book that is an argosy of stories and legends about the golden age of Hollywood

Did You Know?

Looking at the first sense of "argosy," you might assume that this word is a close relative of "argonaut," but that isn't the case. Although both words have a nautical sense, they have different etymologies. The original argonauts sailed on a ship called the Argo to seek the Golden Fleece; their moniker combines the name of their ship and the Greek word nautēs, meaning "sailor." "Argosy" comes from "Ragusa," the Italian name for the city that is now Dubrovnik, Croatia. Over time, "Ragusa" was modified into "ragusea," a noun for the laden merchant ships that sailed from that port in medieval days. A broadening of meaning and another shift in spelling gave us "argosy," denoting any merchant vessel or rich store.

Origin and Etymology of argosy

modification of Italian ragusea Ragusan vessel, from Ragusa, Dalmatia (now Dubrovnik, Croatia)

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1581

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Examples: argosy in a Sentence

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