caravel
1 synonym for caravel, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A light sailing ship, usually rigged with triangular sails, used by Portuguese and Spanish sailors for trade and exploration from the 15th century onward.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
carvel
How to use caravel
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
sail a caravel
a fleet of caravels
a lateen-rigged caravel
It is a historical and nautical term, not used in ordinary modern conversation.
Etymology
Caravel came into English from Middle French caravelle, which traces back through Old Galician-Portuguese caravela to a Late Latin word for a small wicker boat covered in hide. That Latin word ultimately derives from an Ancient Greek term for a light vessel.
Full origin of caravel →Frequently asked questions
What was a caravel used for?
It was used by Portuguese and Spanish sailors for trade and later for voyages of exploration, over a period of about 300 years from the 15th century.
Who sailed caravels?
Portuguese and Spanish explorers used them, including ships in Columbus's fleet.
What kind of sails did a caravel have?
It was usually rigged with triangular, lateen sails.
