caravel

n. light sailing ship (also carvel)

A caravel is a small, highly maneuverable, two- or three-masted ship used by the Portuguese and Spanish for long voyages of exploration from the 15th century. Its origins date back to the qarib used by Andalusian explorers in the 13th century.Although the carrack (or Nau) represented the state of the art in later medieval shipbuilding, there were purposes for which it was not appropriate. Initially carracks were used for exploration by the Portuguese venturing out along the west African coast and into the Atlantic Ocean. But large, full-rigged ships could not always be sailed with the precision necessary for inshore surveying in unknown waters. The explorers soon came to prefer the Barge (Barca) or the Balinger (Barinel) of around 50 to 200 tons, or the light two or three-masted Mediterranean lateen-rigged vessels known as caravels.
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(n.)
The caravel of the 16th century was a small vessel with broad bows, high, narrow poop, four masts, and lateen sails. Columbus commanded three caravels on his great voyage.
  

(n.)
A Turkish man-of-war.
  

(n.)
A small fishing boat used on the French coast.
  

(n.)
A Portuguese vessel of 100 or 150 tons burden.
  

(n.)
A name given to several kinds of vessels.