flotilla

UK: /fləˈtɪlə/ US: /floʊˈtɪlə/ ,(flō til′ə)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

flo•til•la /floʊˈtɪlə/   n. [countable]

1. Nautical, Naval Terms a group of small ships.
2. a group moving together:
   a flotilla of cars.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

flo•til•la  (flō til′ə), n. 

1. Nautical, Naval Terms a group of small naval vessels, esp. a naval unit containing two or more squadrons.
2. a group moving together:
   The governor was followed by a whole flotilla of reporters.

• Old English flota
• French flotte
• Spanish, diminutive of flota fleet
• 1705–15

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

flotilla / fləˈtɪlə/ noun

1. a small fleet or a fleet of small vessels

Etymology: 18th Century: from Spanish flota fleet, from French flotte, ultimately from Old Norse floti