fleet

FLEET, in English names, denotes a flood, a creek or inlet, a bay or estuary, or a river; as in Fleet-street, North-flete, Fleet-prison. FLEET, noun [Fleet and float seem to be allied. But whether they are formed from the root of flow, or whether the last consonant is radical, is not obvious. See Float.] A navy or squadron of ships; a number of ships in company, whether ships of war, or of commerce. It more generally signifies ships of war. FLEET, adjective [Eng. to flit.] 1. Swift of pace; moving or able to move with rapidity; nimble; light and quick in motion, or moving with lightness and celerity; as a fleet horse or dog. 2. Moving with velocity; as fleet winds. 3. Light; superficially fruitful; or thin; not penetrating deep; as soil. 4. Skimming the surface. FLEET, verb intransitive 1. To fly swiftly; to hasten; to flit as a light substance. To fleet away is to vanish. How all the other passions fleet to air. 2. To be in a transient state. 3. to float. FLEET, verb transitive 1. to skim the surface; to pass over rapidly; as a ship that fleets the gulf. 2. To pass lightly, or in mirth and joy; as, to fleet away time. [Not used.] 3. To skim milk. [Local, in England.] The verb in the transitive form is rarely or never used in America.