Corvette
/kɔːrˈvɛt/noun
A small warship, especially one used for escort duties.
Did you know?The English word *corvette* entered through French naval usage, and its older relatives ultimately trace back to a Latin root meaning “crow” or “raven,” a bird long tied to dark omens and war.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ker-
“A root associated with horns, heads, or projecting shapes, which later fed into words for raven/crow in some branches through semantic development.”
Latin
Latin
corvus
“Crow or raven.”
Old French
Old French
corvette
“A small vessel, especially a light warship.”
17th Century
French
corvette
“A small, fast sailing warship used for escort and patrol.”
18th Century
English
corvette
“A small warship, especially for convoy escort.”