Frigate FRIG'ATE, n. [Gr. signifies not fortified. L. aphractum, an open ship or vessel.]
1. A ship of war, of a size larger than a sloop or brig, and less than a ship of the line; usually having two decks and carrying from thirty to forty four guns. But ships mounting a less number than thirty guns are sometimes called frigates; as are ships carrying a larger number.
2. Any small vessel on the water. [Not used.]

frigate n 1: a medium size square-rigged warship of the 18th and 19th centuries 2: a United States warship larger than a destroyer and smaller than a cruiser

frigate noun Etymology: Middle French, from Old Italian fregata Date: 1583 1. a light boat propelled originally by oars but later by sails 2. a square-rigged war vessel intermediate between a corvette and a ship of the line 3. a modern warship that is smaller than a destroyer

frigate
n.
1 a Brit. a naval escort-vessel between a corvette and a destroyer in size. b US a similar ship between a destroyer and a cruiser in size.
2 hist. a warship next in size to ships of the line.
Phrases and idioms:
frigate-bird any marine bird of the family Fregatidae, found in tropical seas, with a wide wingspan and deeply forked tail: also called hurricane-bird.
Etymology: F frégate f. It. fregata, of unkn. orig.

frigate (frigates) A frigate is a fairly small ship owned by the navy that can move at fast speeds. Frigates are often used to protect other ships. N-COUNT

FRIGATE A well-rigged frigate; a well-dressed wench.

Frigate \Frig"ate\, n. [F. fr['e]gate, It. fregata, prob. contracted fr. L. fabricata something constructed or. built. See Fabricate.] 1. Originally, a vessel of the Mediterranean propelled by sails and by oars. The French, about 1650, transferred the name to larger vessels, and by 1750 it had been appropriated for a class of war vessels intermediate between corvettes and ships of the line. Frigates, from about 1750 to 1850, had one full battery deck and, often, a spar deck with a lighter battery. They carried sometimes as many as fifty guns. After the application of steam to navigation steam frigates of largely increased size and power were built, and formed the main part of the navies of the world till about 1870, when the introduction of ironclads superseded them. [Formerly spelled frigat and friggot.] 2. Any small vessel on the water. [Obs.] --Spenser. Frigate bird (Zo["o]l.), a web-footed rapacious bird, of the genus Fregata; -- called also man-of-war bird, and frigate pelican. Two species are known; that of the Southern United States and West Indies is F. aquila. They are remarkable for their long wings and powerful flight. Their food consists of fish which they obtain by robbing gulls, terns, and other birds, of their prey. They are related to the pelicans. Frigate mackerel (Zo["o]l.), an oceanic fish ({Auxis Rochei}) of little or no value as food, often very abundant off the coast of the United States. Frigate pelican. (Zo["o]l.) Same as Frigate bird.

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