[Teut. flieffen].
The old word for float: as "we fleeted down the river with our boats;" and Shakspeare makes Antony say,
"Our sever'd navy too
Have knit again, and fleet, threat'ning most sea-like."
***
A general name given to the royal navy. Also, any number of ships, whether designed for war or commerce, keeping in company. A fleet of ships of war is usually divided into three squadrons, and these, if numerous, are again separated into subdivisions. The admiral commands the centre, the second in command superintends the vanguard, and the third directs the rear. The term in the navy was any number exceeding a squadron, or rear-admiral's command, composed of five sail-of-the-line, with any amount of smaller vessels.