sloop

name

1. A surname.

noun

Etymology: Borrowed from Dutch sloep. Doublet of chalupa and shallop.

1. A single-masted sailboat with only one headsail.

   “1789, Olaudah Equiano (Gustavus Vassa), The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, I stayed in this island for a few days; I believe it could not be above a fortnight; when I and some few more slaves, that were not saleable amongst the rest, from very much fretting, were shipped off in a sloop for North America.”

   “And where but from Nantucket, too, did that first adventurous little sloop put forth, partly laden with imported cobblestones—so goes the story—to throw at the whales, in order to discover when they were nigh enough to risk a harpoon from the bowsprit?”

2. A sailing warship, smaller than a frigate, with its guns all on one deck.
3. A sloop-of-war, smaller than a frigate, larger than a corvette.