From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishfrigatefrig‧ate /ˈfrɪɡət/ noun [countable] TTWa small fast ship used especially for protecting other ships in wars
Examples from the Corpus
frigate• The Nimitz will be accompanied by five other warships, including a guided-missile cruiser, two destroyers and a frigate.• The larger part is made up by the host of specialised equipments that such a frigate contains.• Newall, 27, was arrested by a Royal Navy frigate sailing his yacht off Casablanca.• The section on frigates and destroyers put their number at 65.• The arrival of the Transport Secretary was further postponed by a slow-moving statement over frigate orders.• Within that frigate were seeds of destruction that would soon burst forth.• Perhaps the captain of the frigate was a touch too eager.Origin frigate (1500-1600) French frégate, from Italian fregata 