argosy

English

Etymology

Alteration of Italian ragusea (“a large ship”), after the maritime city of Ragusa, now Dubrovnik.

Noun

argosy (plural argosies)

1. A merchant ship.
2. A merchant flotilla, fleet.

   1594 Gremio, 'tis known my father hath no less Than three great argosies, besides two galliasses, And twelve tight galleys; these I will assure her, And twice as much, whate'er thou offer'st next. — Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew.

3. Popular anglicism of the Argonautika of Apollonios Rhodios.

   1918 Roger chuckled. "I hope you don't think I'm a mere highbrow," he said. "As a customer said to me once, without meaning to be funny, `I like both the Iliad and the Argosy.' The only thing I can't stand is literature that is unfairly and intentionally flavoured with vanilla. Confectionery soon disgusts the palate, whether you find it in Marcus Aurelius or Doctor Crane. — Christopher Morley, The Haunted Bookshop, Chapter 6.

4. A collection of lore.

Anagrams

• yorgas