Navette
/næˈvɛt/noun
A small shuttle, boat-shaped object, or a pointed oval cut of a gemstone.
Did you know?French *navette* is a diminutive of *nave* (“ship”), ultimately from Latin *nāvis*; the same ancient sea-root also gave English words like *navy* and *navigate*.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
nāvis
“ship”
Old French
Old French
nave
“ship”
Middle French
French
navette
“little ship; shuttle”
Modern English
English
navette
“a shuttle-like object or a pointed oval gem cut”