Caravel
/ˈkær.ə.vəl/noun
A small, fast sailing ship used especially by the Portuguese and Spanish in the Age of Exploration.
Did you know?The caravel became one of the signature ships of the Age of Discovery because its nimble design let explorers sail farther and tack against the wind better than many older vessels.
Etymological Timeline
Modern English
English
caravel
“a small, maneuverable sailing ship”
15th Century
Portuguese
caravela
“a small sailing vessel”
Medieval Latin
Latin
caravella
“a small ship”
Possible pre-Latin / Romance substrate
Unknown
karabos / karabion
“a light, small boat or shell-shaped vessel”
Ancient Greek
Greek
kárabos
“a kind of beetle or crab; also used for a small boat or shell-like object”