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A small, fast Spanish or Portuguese sailing ship of the 15th–17th centuries.
‘Its tall twin bell towers were the first sign of port for the caravels making the long voyage from Lisbon, Africa or Macau.’
‘Nine years later his caravels were wrecked at Puerto Bueno - the present Dry Harbour.’
‘One theory has it as the hulk of a Portuguese caravel wrecked here in the 1560s.’
‘Square-rigged sails were particularly effective on the lighter ships known as caravels, which is why the Nina and Pinta were apt choices for Columbus's first voyage.’
‘The even skin of the carvel hull enabled shipwrights to cut gunports close to the waterline.’
Origin
Early 16th century: from French caravelle, from Portuguese caravela, diminutive of caravo, via Latin from Greek karabos ‘horned beetle’ or ‘light ship’.