Illustration of caravel
caravel
noun
car·a·vel
ˈker-ə-ˌvel 
ˈka-rə-,
-vəl
: any of several sailing ships
specifically
: a small 15th and 16th century ship that has broad bows, high narrow poop, and usually three masts with lateen or both square and lateen sails
Examples of caravel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Engulfed in the unpredictable Dionysian crowds rocking him left and right like a 15th century caravel, Reed vowed to carry on until morning like locals traditionally do.
—
Ana Leorne, SPIN, 31 Dec. 2024
But what of those murals glorifying European colonization, with Christopher Columbus sweeping down from the sky in a caravel to find half-naked Native Americans?
—New York Times, 25 May 2021
More than that, though, the Portuguese were carrying on their wooden caravels an entirely unfamiliar culture from those the Chinese had previously met.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 6 June 2020
Spanish caravels and a viking longboat, a moving sidewalk, the first Ferris wheel — along with people and cultures from around the globe — all turned Jackson Park and the Midway Plaisance into the world’s museum.
—Charles J. Johnson, chicagotribune.com, 28 June 2019
In Europe, however, small and scrappy Portugal did build small ships called caravels that could explore the African coast and later the Atlantic Ocean.
—Lee Roop, AL.com, 14 Mar. 2018
This caravel gave me a strange sense of peace and the feeling that there is always a story to tell, a place where to return.
—Andrew Katz, TIME.com, 17 July 2017
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Ana Leorne, SPIN, 31 Dec. 2024
But what of those murals glorifying European colonization, with Christopher Columbus sweeping down from the sky in a caravel to find half-naked Native Americans?
—New York Times, 25 May 2021
More than that, though, the Portuguese were carrying on their wooden caravels an entirely unfamiliar culture from those the Chinese had previously met.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 6 June 2020
Spanish caravels and a viking longboat, a moving sidewalk, the first Ferris wheel — along with people and cultures from around the globe — all turned Jackson Park and the Midway Plaisance into the world’s museum.
—Charles J. Johnson, chicagotribune.com, 28 June 2019
In Europe, however, small and scrappy Portugal did build small ships called caravels that could explore the African coast and later the Atlantic Ocean.
—Lee Roop, AL.com, 14 Mar. 2018
This caravel gave me a strange sense of peace and the feeling that there is always a story to tell, a place where to return.
—Andrew Katz, TIME.com, 17 July 2017
Dictionary Entries Near caravel
Cite this Entry
“Caravel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caravel. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
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caravel
noun
car·a·vel
ˈkar-ə-ˌvel
-vəl
: a small 15th and 16th century ship with a broad bow, a high stern, and usually three masts
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