aviso

aviso

A small aviso delivers a message to a larger ship at sea.

Definition
  1. Noun (Nautical):
    • A dispatch boat: "aviso" refers to a small, fast ship used in naval contexts to carry messages, orders, or dispatches between ships or from shore to sea.
    • A type of warship: Historically, an "aviso" could also denote a light warship designed for reconnaissance or communication duties, especially in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Usage Examples
  • (A small, fast ship carrying a message.)
  • (A light warship for reconnaissance.)
Advanced Usage
  • "to dispatch an aviso": to send a message vessel.

    • The captain ordered an aviso to be dispatched immediately. (He commanded a fast boat to deliver news.)
  • "aviso class": a category of ships designed for communication or patrol.

    • The Portuguese navy operated several aviso-class vessels in the 1900s. (A specific type of small warship.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Aviso (n): the term is used in multiple languages (e.g., Spanish, Portuguese, French) with the same meaning. No common English variants exist, as "aviso" is a loanword.
  • Dispatch boat (n): a synonym for aviso in English.
    • The dispatch boat arrived with news of the ceasefire. (A vessel carrying urgent messages.)
Synonyms
  • Dispatch vessel: a ship used for carrying messages.
  • Courier ship: a fast boat assigned to deliver communications.
  • Advice boat: an older term for a vessel giving warnings or information.
Related Idioms
  • "to be on aviso" (rare, nautical): to be on alert or standby for orders.
    • The fleet was on aviso, ready to respond to any signal. (The ships were prepared to receive and act on dispatches.)
Phrasal Verbs
  • Send aviso (non-standard): to dispatch a message boat.
    • They sent aviso to the nearest port. (They dispatched a fast ship with a message.)