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| frigate [ fríggət ] (plural frigates) |
noun |
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| Definition: |
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1. warship smaller than destroyer: a British warship next in size below a destroyer and with a similar armament and function
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2. US medium-sized warship: a US warship of medium size, larger than a destroyer but smaller than a cruiser, and used mainly for escort duty
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3. sailing ship equipped for war: in the 18th and early 19th centuries, a fast square-rigged fighting ship next in size below a ship of the line
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| [Late 16th century. Via French frégate< Italian fregata] |
