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flotilla

 - 3 dictionary results

flo⋅til⋅la

  [floh-til-uh]
Use flotilla in a Sentence
–noun
1. a group of small naval vessels, esp. a naval unit containing two or more squadrons.
2. a group moving together: The governor was followed by a whole flotilla of reporters.
Origin:
1705–15; < Sp, dim. of flota fleet < F flotte < OE flota
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To flotilla
flo·til·la   (flō-tĭl'ə)   
n.  

    1. A small fleet.

    2. A fleet of small craft.

    3. A U.S. Navy organizational unit of two or more squadrons of small warships.

    4. A similar unit in the navy of another country.

    1. A U.S. Navy organizational unit of two or more squadrons of small warships.

    2. A similar unit in the navy of another country.

  3. Informal A group of vehicles owned or operated as a unit: "Now [the limousine service] has a flotilla of about 150 cars, more than 200 uniformed chauffeurs" (People).


[Spanish, diminutive of flota, fleet, from Old French flote, from Old Norse floti; see pleu- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

flotilla 
1711, "a small fleet," from Sp. flotilla, dim. of flota "float," from flotar "to float," of Gmc. origin (see float).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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