Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Naval?

\Na"val\, a. [L. navalis, fr. navis ship: cf. F. naval. See {Nave} of a church.] Having to do with shipping; of or pertaining to ships or a navy; consisting of ships; as, naval forces, successes, stores, etc. {Naval brigade}, a body of seamen or marines organized for military service on land. {Naval officer}. (a) An officer in the navy. (b) A high officer in some United States customhouses. {Naval tactics}, the science of managing or maneuvering vessels sailing in squadrons or fleets. Syn: Nautical; marine; maritime. Usage: {Naval}, {Nautical}. Naval is applied to vessels, or a navy, or the things which pertain to them or in which they participate; nautical, to seamen and the art of navigation. Hence we speak of a naval, as opposed to a military, engagement; naval equipments or stores, a naval triumph, a naval officer, etc., and of nautical pursuits or instruction, nautical calculations, a nautical almanac, etc.