Flotilla
/floʊˈtɪl.ə/noun
A small fleet of ships or boats.
Did you know?Flotilla comes from Spanish *flotilla*, a diminutive of *flota* (“fleet”), ultimately from Latin *fluctuare* and *fluctus*—the same root behind words tied to waves, flowing, and upheaval.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
fluctus
“a wave, surge, or flowing motion”
Latin
Latin
fluctuare
“to flow, surge, or toss like waves”
Medieval Latin / Spanish
Spanish
flota
“a fleet of ships”
16th Century
Spanish
flotilla
“a small fleet”
18th Century
English
flotilla
“a small fleet of boats or ships”