frigate
/ˈfrɪgɪt/noun
1- a warship with a mixed armament, generally lighter than a destroyer (in the US navy, heavier) and of a kind originally introduced for convoy escort work护卫舰; （美国海军的）驱逐舰领舰。
1.1
- historical a sailing warship of a size and armament just below that of a ship of the line〈史〉（装有大炮的）快速帆船。
词源
late 16th cent. （denoting a light, fast boat which was rowed or sailed）： from French frégate, from Italian fregata, of unknown origin.