Groups of ships, aircraft, or vehicles operating together under unified command; can also be the third-person singular present of 'fleet' meaning to move quickly.
From Old English 'fleot' meaning 'ship' or 'floating,' related to 'float.' Originally referred to groups of ships, later extended to any organized group of vehicles. The verb sense of moving swiftly developed from the idea of ships moving smoothly across water.
The word 'fleet' beautifully captures humanity's relationship with speed and water - from Viking fleets 'floating' across seas to modern trucking fleets that metaphorically 'sail' across highways. The connection between floating and swift movement shows how maritime metaphors permeate our language even on dry land.
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