vedette

or vi·dette

[ vi-det ]
/ vɪˈdɛt /

noun History/Historical.

Also called vedette boat. a small naval launch used for scouting.
a mounted sentry in advance of the outposts of an army.

Origin of vedette

1680–90; < French < Italian vedetta outlook where a sentinel is posted, alteration of earlier veletta (of debated orig.) by association with vedere to see; see -ette

Words nearby vedette

veda, vedalia, vedanta, vedda, veddoid, vedette, vedic, vee, veeck, veejay, veena

Example sentences from the Web for vedette

British Dictionary definitions for vedette

vedette
/ (vɪˈdɛt) /

noun

Also called: vedette boat navy a small patrol vessel
Also called: vidette military a mounted sentry posted forward of a formation's position

Word Origin for vedette

C17: from French, from Italian vedetta (influenced by vedere to see), from earlier veletta, perhaps from Spanish vela watch, from velar to keep vigil, from Latin vigilāre