Căr'a-vĕl, n.
n. [Fr. caravelle, It. caravella, Sp. carabela, from Sp. caraba, a kind of vessel, from Lat. carabus, Gr. κάραβος, a kind of sea-crab and a kind of light ship, N. Gr. καράβι, ship, vessel, Icel. karfi, Ir. & Gael. cairbh, cairbh.] [Written also carvel.]
Sense 1. (Naut.) A kind of light, round, old-fashioned ship, with a square poop, rigged like a galley, and not much above a hundred tons in burden; — formerly used by Spaniards and Portuguese.
To board the caravels upon the main. Fanshawe.
Sense 2. A small boat used for the herring-fishery, on the coast of France. Simmonds.