fleet´ly

fleet¹ «fleet», noun.

1. a) a group of warships, naval aircraft, personnel, and bases under one command: »

The sixth fleet is based in San Francisco.

b) a group of warships engaged in a single mission. c) the entire navy of a nation or allied nations: »

the United States fleet.

defn>any group of ships or boats sailing together: »

a fleet of fishing boats. I must go Where the fleet of stars is anchored (James Elroy Flecker).

SYNONYM(S): flotilla.

2. a group of airplanes, automobiles, or the like, moving or working together: »

Each large Post Office has a fleet of trucks to help carry the mail.

╂[Old English flēot ship, vessel < flēotan to float. Compare etym. under fleet³. (Cf. ↑fleet)]

fleet² «fleet», adjective, verb.

–adj.

1. swiftly moving; rapid: »

a fleet horse. The fairest things have fleetest end (Francis Thompson).

2. not lasting; evanescent.

3. Dialect. having little depth; shallow.

–v.i.

1. to pass swiftly; move rapidly.

2. (of a crew or vessel) to alter in station or position; move; shift.

3. a) (of a vessel) to sail. b) Obsolete. to float. c) Obsolete. to swim.

4. Obsolete. to drift.

5. Obsolete. a) to dissolve or waste away; fall to pieces. b) (of immaterial things) to fade away; vanish.

–v.t.

1. Rare. to pass or while away (time).

2. to alter the station or position of (a crew or vessel); move; shift.

╂[probably < Scandinavian (compare Old Icelandic fliōtr swift)]

–fleet´ly, adverb.

–fleet´ness, noun.

fleet³ «fleet», noun. Obsolete or Dialect.

1. an inlet, especially an inlet from the sea; a tidal creek (surviving chiefly as an element in place names).

2. a drain; sewer.

╂[Old English flēot estuary, bay; water < flēotan to float, flow]