\Frig"ate\, n. [F. fr['e]gate, It. fregata, prob.
contracted fr. L. fabricata something constructed or. built.
See {Fabricate}.]
1. Originally, a vessel of the Mediterranean propelled by
   sails and by oars. The French, about 1650, transferred the
   name to larger vessels, and by 1750 it had been
   appropriated for a class of war vessels intermediate
   between corvettes and ships of the line. Frigates, from
   about 1750 to 1850, had one full battery deck and, often,
   a spar deck with a lighter battery. They carried sometimes
   as many as fifty guns. After the application of steam to
   navigation steam frigates of largely increased size and
   power were built, and formed the main part of the navies
   of the world till about 1870, when the introduction of
   ironclads superseded them. [Formerly spelled {frigat} and
   {friggot}.]

2. Any small vessel on the water. [Obs.] --Spenser.

{Frigate bird} (Zo["o]l.), a web-footed rapacious bird, of
   the genus {Fregata}; -- called also {man-of-war bird}, and
   {frigate pelican}. Two species are known; that of the
   Southern United States and West Indies is {F. aquila}.
   They are remarkable for their long wings and powerful
   flight. Their food consists of fish which they obtain by
   robbing gulls, terns, and other birds, of their prey. They
   are related to the pelicans.

{Frigate mackerel} (Zo["o]l.), an oceanic fish ({Auxis
   Rochei}) of little or no value as food, often very
   abundant off the coast of the United States.

{Frigate pelican}. (Zo["o]l.) Same as {Frigate bird}.