flotilla

[ floh-til-uh ]

noun

1. a group of small naval vessels, especially a naval unit containing two or more squadrons.
2. a group moving together:

   The governor was followed by a whole flotilla of reporters.

flotilla

/ fləˈtɪlə /

noun

1. a small fleet or a fleet of small vessels

Word History and Origins

Origin of flotilla¹

1705–15; < Spanish, diminutive of flota fleet < French flotte < Old English flota

Word History and Origins

Origin of flotilla¹

C18: from Spanish flota fleet, from French flotte , ultimately from Old Norse floti

Example Sentences

If you doubt that, then take a look at the recent flotilla of boats in the South where boaters were screaming “Make America White Again,” while flying nazi and Trump flags.

From Salon

On this week’s Amicus podcast, Dahlia Lithwick was joined by Linda Greenhouse, the veteran New York Times Supreme Court reporter, opinion columnist, and author of Justice on the Brink: A Requiem for the Supreme Court, to unpack what this new reporting tells us about the chief justice of the United States, his agenda, and what it means for the flotilla of election cases inevitably headed the high court’s way in the coming weeks.

From Slate

The leadership has no desire to be a flotilla of small causes.

From BBC

A flotilla of war canoes sat ready to take the king - who has lain in state for six days - to his final resting place on Mount Taupiri, sacred to the Māori people.

From BBC

The ceremony also included musical performances by Lady Gaga, French Malian superstar Aya Nakamura, opera singer Axelle Saint-Cirel and the “eco-metal” band Gojira, plus the lighting of a floating cauldron after athletes from more than 200 nations sent their delegations in a flotilla down the river.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• armada
• squadron