Vessel

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈvÉ›s.É™l/
• Rhymes: -É›sÉ™l

Origin

From Old French vaissel (compare modern French vaisseau), from Latin vāscellum, diminutive of vāsculum, diminutive of vās ("vessel").

Full definition of vessel

Noun

1. (nautical) Any craft designed for transportation on water, such as a ship or boat.
• 1719, Daniel Defoe, But my hope was, that if I stood along this coast till I came to that part where the English traded, I should find some of their vessels upon their usual design of trade, that would relieve and take us in.
• 2012-03, William E. Carter, Merri Sue Carter, The British Longitude Act Reconsidered, Conditions were horrendous aboard most British naval vessels at the time. Scurvy and other diseases ran rampant, killing more seamen each year than all other causes combined, including combat.
2. A container of liquid, such as a glass, goblet, cup, bottle, bowl, or pitcher.
3. A person as a container of qualities or feelings.
• Bible, Acts ix. 15He is a chosen vessel unto me.
• Miltonserpent fit vessel, fittest imp of fraud, in whom to enter.
• Dolly Parton, The Seeker lyrics:I am a vessel that’s empty and useless
  I am a bad seed that fell by the way.
4. (biology) A tube or canal that carries fluid in an animal or plant.Blood or lymph vessels in humans, xylem or phloem vessels in plants.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Verb

1. (obsolete, transitive) To put into a vessel.

Anagrams

• selves