fleet
oxford
views updated May 14 2018fleet1 / flēt/ •
n. the largest group of naval vessels under one commander, organized for specific tactical or other purposes: an invasion fleet. ∎ (the fleet) a country's navy: the U.S. fleet. ∎ a group of ships sailing together, engaged in the same activity, or under the same ownership: the small port supports a fishing fleet. ∎ a number of ships, vehicles or aircraft operating together or under the same ownership: a fleet of ambulances took the injured to hospital.fleet2 •
adj. fast and nimble in movement: a man of advancing years, but fleet of foot.DERIVATIVES: fleet·ly adv.fleet·ness n.fleet3 •
n. Brit. a marshland creek, channel, or ditch.fleet4 •
v. [intr.] poetic/lit. move or pass quickly: a variety of expressions fleeted across his face time may fleet and youth may fade. ∎ [tr.] pass (time) rapidly. ∎ fade away; be transitory: the cares of boyhood fleet away.
The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English
fleet
oxford
views updated May 11 2018fleet3 †float OE.; (arch.) flow or glide away XII. OE. str. vb.
flēotan float, swim = OS.
fliotan (Du.
vlieten), OHG.
fliozan (G.
fliessen), ON.
fljóta float, flow :- Gmc. *
fleutan; f. IE. *
pleud- *
plud-, extension of *
pleu- *
plou- plu- (repr. by Gr.
pleîn :- *
pleFfein sail, OSl.
pluti, Skr.
plávate swim, float, L.
pluere rain); cf.
FLY2. Surviving mainly in
fleeting ppl. adj. †floating, swimming OE.; †shifting, inconstant XIII; passing quickly away XVI.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD
fleet
oxford
views updated May 29 2018fleet2 (dial.) run of water OE.; (hist.)
The Fleet that flowing into the Thames between Ludgate Hill and
Fleet Street; (hence) the prison near it XIII. OE.
flēot (also
flēote or
-a), corr. to OFris.
flēt, (M)Du.
vliet, MHG.
vliez, ON.
fljót, f. Gmc. *
fleut -FLEET3.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD
Fleet
gale
views updated May 18 2018Fleet
the naval force of a country; a number of ships belonging to a company; a number of persons; birds or other objects moving in company; a group of lorries or trucks.
Examples: fleet of aircraft; of barges, 1840; of birds, 1884; of colliers, 1865; of wild ducks, 1810; of knights, 1450; of lant-horns, 1675; of lorries; of motor vehicles; of mudhens; of ships.
Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms
fleet
oxford
views updated Jun 27 2018fleet1 naval force. OE.
flēot (once) ship or ships coll., f.
flēotan float, swim,
FLEET3.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD
fleet
oxford
views updated Jun 11 2018fleet4 swift. XVI. prob. much older if — ON.
fljótr, f. Gmc. *
fleut- (see prec.).
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD
