English Explanatory Dictionary

fleet in being

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A naval fleet which exerts an influence while remaining in port.

Word forms

fleet in being fleets in being fleet-in-being

Etymology

First used in 1690 by British Admiral Arthur Herbert, 1st Earl of Torrington, in defending his strategy of keeping his fleet in port until reinforcements arrived, rather than engaging with the superior French force.

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