flotilla

[ floh-til-uh ]

/ floʊˈtɪl ə /

a group of small naval vessels, especially a naval unit containing two or more squadrons.

a group moving together: The governor was followed by a whole flotilla of reporters.

Origin of flotilla

1705–15; < Spanish, diminutive of flota fleet < French flotte < Old English flota

The pendant light is a flotilla of hot air balloons hand blown in glass.

OMG I Want That ...Nursery (Royal Edition) |Tom Sykes |May 9, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
But I was oddly pleased when I heard that 500 people were treated for hypothermia after the flotilla.

Amis on Harry: 'He's Ginge, He's Loud...' |Tom Sykes |July 25, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will travel in the Royal Barge which will form the centrepiece of the flotilla.

Jubilee Events in London | |May 31, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
The two countries are facing a major diplomatic rupture over a report on the Gaza flotilla raid, and neither side is backing down.

Israel and Turkey Sever Ties |Owen Matthews |September 2, 2011 |DAILY BEAST

Flotilla organizers say someone sabotaged two of their ships currently docked in Greece.

The Gaza Flotilla PR Battle |Dan Ephron |June 29, 2011 |DAILY BEAST
The flotilla—mother-ship, tugs and all—was out to sea long before the dawn.

World's War Events, Volume III |Various
When the flotilla was within pistol shot of the schooner Mr. Gibney stepped to the rail and motioned them back.

Captain Scraggs |Peter B. Kyne
With the escape of the Red-river flotilla, the career of Admiral Porter on the rivers ended.

The Naval History of the United States |Willis J. Abbot.
So successful was he, indeed, that he added two more ships to his flotilla and sent them to Spain.

South America |W. H. Koebel
Thus narrowly escaped the flotilla which carried "Cæsar and his fortune."

The History of Napoleon Buonaparte |John Gibson Lockhart

flotilla

/ (fləˈtɪlə) /

a small fleet or a fleet of small vessels

C18: from Spanish flota fleet, from French flotte, ultimately from Old Norse floti