1. A mounted sentinel stationed in advance of an outpost.
2. A small scouting boat used to observe and report on an opposing naval force.

[French, from Italian vedetta, alteration (influenced by vedere, to see) of veletta, probably from Spanish vela, watch, from velar, to watch, from Latin vigilāre, to watch through the night, from vigil, awake.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.