caravelle
/ˈkɛrəˌvɛl/
noun
- A small, fast sailing ship from the 15th and 16th centuries, used especially by the Portuguese and Spanish for long voyages of exploration.
- Museums often display models of a caravelle to show how sailors traveled centuries ago.
- The caravelle's design allowed it to sail closer to the wind than larger ships.
- The caravelle was the ship of choice for many early explorers crossing the Atlantic.