1580s, from Middle French frégate (1520s), from Italian fregata (Neapolitan fregate), which with many names for types of sea vessels is of unknown origin. It is common to the Mediterranean languages ( [..]

type of armed naval combat vessel.

Uses both for naval ships of the late 18th and early 19th centuries generally fully rigged on three masts and armed with guns on one or two decks and designed for various battle functions, and for a c [..]

(n) a medium size square-rigged warship of the 18th and 19th centuries(n) a United States warship larger than a destroyer and smaller than a cruiser

1. In the 17th century, any warship built for speed and maneuverability. 2. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, a sailing warship with a single continuous gun deck, typically used for patrolling, bl [..]

Originally, a Mediterranean vessel propelled by oars and sails. Later, name was given to a square-rigged warship having two gun decks and mounting 30 to 50 guns. They were used as scouts or cruisers a [..]

(a) a medium speed anti submarine escort vessel built from World War II, (b)a three masted fully rigged warship armed with 24 to 38 guns on a single gundeck Source: National Monuments Record: Maritime Craft Type Thesaurus

A three-masted sailing warship with two full decks, with only one gun deck. A frigate was armed with between 30 to 44 guns located on the gun deck and possibly some on the quarter-deck and forecastle. [..]

A fast, three masted fully rigged ship of the fifth or sixth rate (i.e. carrying anywhere from 20 to 48 guns). At the time of this narrative, frigates served primarily "scouts" for the main [..]