Word Study
fleet
CIDE DICTIONARY
fleet, v. i. [OE. fleten, fleoten, to swim, AS. fleótan to swim, float; akin to D. vlieten to flow, OS. fliotan, OHG. fliozzan, G. fliessen, Icel. flj to float, flow, Sw. flyta, D. flyde, L. pluere to rain, Gr. plei^n to sail, swim, float, Skr. plu to swim, sail. Fleet, n. & a. , Float, Pluvial, Flow.].
- To sail; to float. [1913 Webster]"And in frail wood on Adrian Gulf doth fleet." [1913 Webster]
- To fly swiftly; to pass over quickly; to hasten; to flit as a light substance. [1913 Webster]"All the unaccomplished works of Nature's hand, . . .
Dissolved on earth, fleet hither." [1913 Webster] - To slip on the whelps or the barrel of a capstan or windlass; -- said of a cable or hawser. [1913 Webster]
- To move or change in position; -- said of persons; as, the crew fleeted aft. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
fleet, v. t.
- To pass over rapidly; to skin the surface of; as, a ship that fleets the gulf. Spenser. [1913 Webster]
- To hasten over; to cause to pass away lighty, or in mirth and joy. [1913 Webster]"Many young gentlemen flock to him, and fleet the time carelessly." [1913 Webster]
- To draw apart the blocks of; -- said of a tackle. Totten.
- To move or change in position; used only in special phrases; as, of fleet aft the crew."We got the long “stick” . . . down and “fleeted” aft, where it was secured." [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
fleet, a. [Cf. Icel. flj quick. See Fleet, v. i. ].
- Swift in motion; moving with velocity; light and quick in going from place to place; nimble. [1913 Webster]"In mail their horses clad, yet fleet and strong." [1913 Webster]
- Light; superficially thin; not penetrating deep, as soil. Mortimer. [1913 Webster]
fleet, n. [OE. flete, fleote, AS. fleót ship, fr. fleótan to float, swim. See Fleet, v. i. and cf. Float.].
A number of vessels in company, especially war vessels; also, the collective naval force of a country, etc. [1913 Webster]
fleet, n. [AS. fleót a place where vessels float, bay, river; akin to D. vliet rill, brook, G. fliess. See Fleet, v. i. ].
- A flood; a creek or inlet; a bay or estuary; a river; -- obsolete, except as a place name, -- as Fleet Street in London. [1913 Webster]"Together wove we nets to entrap the fish
In floods and sedgy fleets." [1913 Webster] - A former prison in London, which originally stood near a stream, the Fleet (now filled up). [1913 Webster]
fleet, v. t. [AS. fl cream, fr. fleótan to float. See Fleet, v. i. ].
To take the cream from; to skim. Johnson. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
fleet, n.
1 a a number of warships under one commander-in-chief. b (prec. by the) all the warships and merchant-ships of a nation.
2 a number of ships, aircraft, buses, lorries, taxis, etc. operating together or owned by one proprietor.
1 a a number of warships under one commander-in-chief. b (prec. by the) all the warships and merchant-ships of a nation.
2 a number of ships, aircraft, buses, lorries, taxis, etc. operating together or owned by one proprietor.
Idiom
Fleet Admiral see ADMIRAL. Fleet Air Arm hist. the aviation service of the Royal Navy.
fleet, adj. poet. literary swift; nimble.
Derivative
fleetly adv. fleetness n.
fleet, n. dial.
1 a creek; an inlet.
2 (the Fleet) a an underground stream running into the Thames east of Fleet St. b hist. a prison that stood near it.
1 a creek; an inlet.
2 (the Fleet) a an underground stream running into the Thames east of Fleet St. b hist. a prison that stood near it.
Idiom
Fleet Street
1 the London press.
2 British journalism or journalists.
1 the London press.
2 British journalism or journalists.
fleet, adj. & adv. dial.
--adj. (of water) shallow.
--adv. at or to a small depth (plough fleet).
--adj. (of water) shallow.
--adv. at or to a small depth (plough fleet).
fleet, v.intr. archaic 1 glide away; vanish; be transitory.
2 (usu. foll. by away) (of time) pass rapidly; slip away.
3 move swiftly; fly.
2 (usu. foll. by away) (of time) pass rapidly; slip away.
3 move swiftly; fly.
Etymology
OE fleotan float, swim f. Gmc
THESAURUS
fleet
Naval Construction Battalion, RN, Royal Navy, Seabees, USN, United States Navy, age group, agile, alert, animated, argosy, armada, ball the jack, band, barrel, battalion, beguile, bevy, body, boom, bottoms, bowl along, breakneck, breeze, breeze along, brief, brigade, brisk, brush, bunch, cabal, cast, clip, clique, coast guard, cohort, cometary, company, complement, contingent, convoy, corps, coterie, covey, crew, crowd, cut along, dally, dashing, detachment, detail, disappear, division, double-quick, eagle-winged, escadrille, evanesce, evaporate, expeditious, express, faction, fade, fast, featly, flashing, flickering, flit, flotilla, fly, fly low, flying, foot, fritter, galloping, gang, go fast, graceful, group, grouping, groupment, hair-trigger, hasty, headlong, highball, hustling, idle, in-group, junta, light, light of heel, light-footed, line, lively, make good, make knots, marine, melt, melt like snow, merchant fleet, merchant marine, merchant navy, mercurial, meteoric, mob, mosquito fleet, movement, naval forces, naval militia, naval reserve, navy, neat-fingered, neat-handed, nimble, nimble-footed, nip, nit, out-group, outfit, outstrip the wind, pack, party, pass, pass away, peart, peer group, phalanx, platoon, posse, potter, pour it on, precipitate, prompt, quick, quick as lightning, quick as thought, rapid, reckless, regiment, rip, running, sail, salon, scorch, set, shipping, ships, short, short and sweet, short-term, short-termed, sink, sizzle, skim, snappy, spanking, speed, speedy, spirited, sprightly, spry, squad, squadron, squander, stable, storm along, string, sure-footed, sweep, swift, task force, task group, tatter, team, tear, tear along, thunder along, tonnage, tribe, troop, troupe, vanish, vivacious, waste, whaling fleet, whisk, whiz, wile, wing, winged, zing, zip, zoomROGET THESAURUS
fleet
Combatant
N combatant, disputant, controversialist, polemic, litigant, belligerent, competitor, rival, corrival, fighter, assailant, champion, Paladin, mosstrooper, swashbuckler fire eater, duelist, bully, bludgeon man, rough, prize fighter, pugilist, boxer, bruiser, the fancy, gladiator, athlete, wrestler, fighting-cock, game-cock, warrior, soldier, fighting man, Amazon, man at arms, armigerent, campaigner, veteran, swordsman, sabreur, redcoat, military man, Rajput, armed force, troops, soldiery, military forces, sabaoth, the army, standing army, regulars, the line, troops of the line, militia, yeomanry, volunteers, trainband, fencible, auxiliary, bersagliere, brave, garde-nationale, garde-royale, minuteman, auxiliary forces, reserve forces, reserves, posse comitatus, national guard, gendarme, beefeater, guards, guardsman, yeomen of the guard, life guards, household troops, janissary, myrmidon, Mama, Mameluke, spahee, spahi, Cossack, Croat, Pandoz, irregular, guerilla, partisan, condottiere, franctireur, tirailleur, bashi-bazouk, vietminh, vietcong, shining path, contras, huk, hukbalahap, mercenary, soldier of fortune, hired gun, gunfighter, gunslinger, bushwhacker, free lance, companion, Hessian, hit man torpedo, soldier, levy, draught, Landwehr, Landsturm, conscript, recruit, cadet, raw levies, infantry, infantryman, private, private soldier, foot soldier, Tommy Atkins, rank and file, peon, trooper, sepoy, legionnaire, legionary, cannon fodder, food for powder, officer, subaltern, ensign, standard bearer, spearman, pikeman, spear bearer, halberdier, lancer, musketeer, carabineer, rifleman, jager, sharpshooter, yager, skirmisher, grenadier, fusileer, archer, bowman, horse and foot, horse soldier, cavalry, horse, artillery, horse artillery, light horse, voltigeur, uhlan, mounted rifles, dragoon, hussar, light dragoon, heavy dragoon, heavy, cuirassier, Foot Guards, Horse Guards, gunner, cannoneer, bombardier, artilleryman, matross, sapper, sapper and miner, engineer, light infantry, rifles, chasseur, zouave, military train, coolie, army, corps d'armee, host, division, battalia, column, wing, detachment, garrison, flying column, brigade, regiment, corps, battalion, sotnia, squadron, company, platoon, battery, subdivision, section, squad, piquet, picket, guard, rank, file, legion, phalanx, cohort, cloud of skirmishers, war horse, charger, destrier, marine, man-of-war's man, navy, wooden walls, naval forces, fleet, flotilla, armada, squadron, man-of-war, destroyer, submarine, minesweeper, torpedo-boat, torpedo-destroyer, patrol torpedo boat, PT boat, torpedo- catcher, war castle, H, M, S, battleship, battle wagon, dreadnought, line of battle ship, ship of the line, aircraft carrier, carrier, flattop, helicopter carrier, missile platform, missile boat, ironclad, turret ship, ram, monitor, floating battery, first- rate, frigate, sloop of war, corvette, gunboat, bomb vessel, flagship, guard ship, cruiser, armored cruiser, protected cruiser, privateer, tender, store ship, troop ship, transport, catamaran, merchant marine.Prison
N prison, prison house, jail, gaol, cage, coop, den, cell, stronghold, fortress, keep, donjon, dungeon, Bastille, oubliette, bridewell, house of correction, hulks, tollbooth, panopticon, penitentiary, guardroom, lockup, hold, round house, watch house, station house, sponging house, station, house of detention, black hole, pen, fold, pound, inclosure, isolation (exclusion), penal settlement, penal colony, bilboes, stocks, limbo, quod, calaboose, chauki, choky, thana, workhouse, Newgate, Fleet, Marshalsea, King's Bench, Queen's Bench, bond, bandage, irons, pinion, gyve, fetter, shackle, trammel, manacle, handcuff, straight jacket, strait jacket, strait-jacket, strait-waistcoat, hopples, vice, vise, yoke, collar, halter, harness, muzzle, gag, bit, brake, curb, snaffle, bridle, rein, reins, bearing rein, martingale, leading string, tether, picket, band, guy, chain, cord, cavesson, hackamore, headstall, jaquima, lines, ribbons, bolt, deadbolt, bar, lock, police lock, combination lock, padlock, rail, wall, stone wall, paling, palisade, fence, picket fence, barbed wire fence, Cyclone fence, stockade fence, chain-link fence, barrier, barricade, drag.Instantaneity
N instantaneity, instantaneousness, immediacy, suddenness, abruptness, moment, instant, second, minute, twinkling, trice, flash, breath, crack, jiffy, coup, burst, flash of lightning, stroke of time, epoch, time, time of day, time of night, hour, minute, very minute, very time, very hour, present time, right time, true time, exact correct time, instantaneous, momentary, sudden, immediate, instant, abrupt, discontinuous, precipitous, precipitant, precipitate, subitaneous, hasty, quick as thought, quick as lightning, quick as a flash, rapid as electricity, speedy, quick, fast, fleet, swift, lively, blitz, rapid (velocity), instantaneously, in no time, in less than no time, presto, subito, instanter, suddenly, at a stroke, like a shot, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, in the twinkling of an eye, in a trice, in one's tracks, right away, toute a l'heure, at one jump, in the same breath, per saltum, uno saltu, at once, all at once, plump, slap, at one fell swoop, at the same instant, immediately, extempore, on the moment, on the spot, on the spur of the moment, no sooner said than done, just then, slap-dash, touch and go, no sooner said than done.Ship
N ship, vessel, sail, craft, bottom, navy, marine, fleet, flotilla, shipping, man of war, transport, tender, storeship, merchant ship, merchantman, packet, liner, whaler, slaver, collier, coaster, lighter, fishing boat, pilot boat, trawler, hulk, yacht, baggala, floating hotel, floating palace, ocean greyhound, ship, bark, barque, brig, snow, hermaphrodite brig, brigantine, barkantine, schooner, topsail schooner, for and aft schooner, three masted schooner, chasse-maree, sloop, cutter, corvette, clipper, foist, yawl, dandy, ketch, smack, lugger, barge, hoy, cat, buss, sailer, sailing vessel, windjammer, steamer, steamboat, steamship, liner, ocean liner, cruiseship, ship of the line, mail steamer, paddle steamer, screw steamer, tug, line of steamers, destroyer, cruiser, frigate, landing ship, LST, aircraft carrier, carrier, flattop, nuclear powered carrier, submarine, submersible, atomic submarine, boat, pinnace, launch, life boat, long boat, jolly boat, bum boat, fly boat, cock boat, ferry boat, canal boat, swamp boat, ark, bully, battery, bateau, broadhorn, dory, droger, drogher, dugout, durham boat, flatboat, galiot, shallop, gig, funny, skiff, dingy, scow, cockleshell, wherry, coble, punt, cog, kedge, lerret, eight oar, four oar, pair oar, randan, outrigger, float, raft, pontoon, prame, iceboat, ice canoe, ice yacht, catamaran, hydroplane, hovercraft, coracle, gondola, carvel, caravel, felucca, caique, canoe, birch bark canoe, dugout canoe, galley, galleyfoist, bilander, dogger, hooker, howker, argosy, carack, galliass, galleon, polacca, polacre, tartane, junk, lorcha, praam, proa, prahu, saick, sampan, xebec, dhow, dahabeah, nuggah, kayak, keel boat, log canoe, pirogue, quadrireme, trireme, stern-wheeler, wanigan, wangan, wharf boat, balloon, airship, aeroplane, biplane, monoplane, triplane, hydroplane, aerodrome, air balloon, pilot balloon, fire balloon, dirigible, zeppelin, aerostat, Montgolfier, kite, parachute, jet plane, rocket plane, jet liner, turbojet, prop-jet, propeller plane, corporate plane, corporate jet, private plane, private aviation, airline, common carrier, fighter, bomber, fighter-bomber, escort plane, spy plane, supersonic aircraft, subsonic aircraft, afloat, aboard, on board, on ship board, hard a lee, hard a port, hard a starboard, hard a weather.Velocity
N velocity, speed, celerity, swiftness, rapidity, eagle speed, expedition, pernicity, acceleration, haste, spurt, rush, dash, race, steeple chase, smart rate, lively rate, swift rate, rattling rate, spanking rate, strapping rate, smart pace, lively pace, swift pace, rattling pace, spanking pace, strapping pace, round pace, flying, flight, lightning, greased lightning, light, electricity, wind, cannon ball, rocket, arrow, dart, hydrargyrum, quicksilver, telegraph, express train, torrent, eagle, antelope, courser, race horse, gazelle, greyhound, hare, doe, squirrel, camel bird, chickaree, chipmunk, hackee, ostrich, scorcher, Mercury, Ariel, Camilla, Harlequin, log, log line, speedometer, odometer, tachometer, strobe, radar speed detector, radar trap, air speed gauge, wind sock, wind speed meter, pedometer, fast, speedy, swift, rapid, quick, fleet, aliped, nimble, agile, expeditious, express, active, flying, galloping, light footed, nimble footed, winged, eagle winged, mercurial, electric, telegraphic, light-legged, light of heel, swift as an arrow, quick as lightning, quick as a thought, swiftly, with speed, apace, at a great rate, at full speed, at railway speed, full drive, full gallop, posthaste, in full sail, tantivy, trippingly, instantaneously, under press of sail, under press of canvas, under press of sail and steam, velis et remis, on eagle's wing, in double quick time, with rapid strides, with giant strides, a pas de geant, in seven league boots, whip and spur, ventre a terre, as fast as one's legs will carry one, as fast as one's heels will carry one, as fast as one can lay legs to the ground, at the top of one's speed, by leaps and bounds, with haste, vires acquirit eundo, I'll put a girdle about the earth in forty minutes, swifter than arrow from the Tartar's bow, go like a bat out of hell, tempus fugit.For further exploring for "fleet" in Webster Dictionary Online
