convoy
/ˈkɒn.vɔɪ/ noun, verb, proper noun
Forms convoys convoying convoyed
- noun (nautical) One or more merchant ships sailing in company to the same general destination under the protection of naval vessels.
- noun A group of vehicles travelling together for safety, especially one with an escort.
- noun The act of convoying; protection.
- verb (transitive) To escort a group of vehicles, and provide protection. “A frigate convoys a merchantman.”
- verb (intransitive) To travel under convoy.
- proper noun A village in County Donegal, Ireland (Irish grid ref C 2101).
- proper noun A village in Tully Township, Van Wert County, Ohio, United States, named after the Irish village.
Etymology
From Middle English, from Old French convoier, another form of conveier, from Vulgar Latin *convio (compare Medieval Latin convio (“to accompany on the way”)), from Latin con- (“together”) + via (“way”).
Webster’s 1913
- verb To accompany for protection, either by sea or land; to attend for protection; to escort; as, a frigate convoys a merchantman.
- noun The act of attending for defense; the state of being so attended; protection; escort.
- noun A vessel or fleet, or a train or trains of wagons, employed in the transportation of munitions of war, money, subsistence, clothing, etc., and having an armed escort.
Etymology [F. convoyer, OF. conveier, convoier. See Convey.]
Etymology [F. convoi.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “convoy”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details