corvette Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a highly maneuverable escort warship; smaller than a destroyer

WordNet

Cor"vet, Cor*vette" noun (Also<
  • Corvet
  • Corvette
)
Etymology
F. corvette, fr. Pg. corveta or Sp. corbeta, fr. L. corbita a slow-sailing ship of burden, fr, corbis basket. Cf. Corbeil.
Definitions
  1. (Naut.) A war vessel, ranking next below a frigate, and having usually only one tier of guns; -- called in the United States navy a sloop of war.

Webster 1913