What does vedette mean?
Vedette is a chiefly military and naval noun for a scout, watcher, or reconnaissance unit. In naval use, it can mean a small warship sent to observe an enemy or gather information. It can also denote a light armored reconnaissance vehicle, while in older military writing a vedette is a sentry, mounted guard, or observer posted in an observation post. The word is usually formal and specialized rather than part of everyday conversation, but it is vivid in historical accounts of reconnaissance, patrols, and battlefield observation. Its value is that it names not merely any scout but the exposed forward role: the person, vehicle, or ship placed where danger is greatest in order to watch and report. French origin reflects the same idea, since French vedette meant a watch or sentry. In modern English, the naval and armored-vehicle senses are generally the most readily recognized, although the personal observation-post sense remains well established in military history.
nounA vedette is a military or naval scout: specifically, a small warship or light armored vehicle used for reconnaissance, or a sentry, mounted guard, or observer posted on watch. In a military formation, it may also refer to a forward observation post.
- A small naval vessel used for reconnaissance or observation.
- A light armored vehicle used for reconnaissance.
- A sentry, mounted guard, or observer stationed in an observation post, especially in a forward military position.
"The fleet dispatched a small vedette to shadow the convoy and report its course."
"The fleet dispatched a small vedette to shadow the convoy and report its course."
"A lieutenant served as the regiment's vedette, watching the road from a concealed observation post."
The plural is vedettes; context determines whether these are ships, vehicles, or military personnel.
"Two vedettes approached the harbor and raised their signal flags."
A vedette was literally a “watch”: an exposed pair of eyes—and sometimes a ship—sent ahead to see what the main force could not.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of vedette
English borrowed vedette from French in the early 17th century, with the French word meaning “watch” or “sentry.” It continues Old French guet, “watch, guard,” which is of Germanic origin. This lineage links it with English relatives such as watch and watchful.
How vedette is actually used
The word is formal and specialized, occurring chiefly in military, naval, and historical contexts. Its grammatical number follows that of the person, vehicle, or vessel denoted.