flotilla (flotila)

[= F. flotille (> D. flotille, flotilje = G. Dan. flotille = Sw. flottilj ) = It. flottiglia, His [Lafayette's] entire flotilla, ammunition of war, and even the city of Anna polis, were saved from destruction by an improvised gun-boat. J. A. Stevens, Gall at in, p. 299. Before breakfast was over, [we] found ourselves surrounded by a perfect flotilla of boats. Lady Bra ey, Voyage of Sunbeam, I. ii. flotist, n. [ME. flotyse , flotyce, the same as flot , with F. term.: see flot , 2.] Scum. Flotyse or flotyce of a pott or other lyke, spuma. Prompt . Parv . , p. 168. If thou burnest blood and fat together to please God, what other thing dost thou make of God than one that had lust to smell to burnt flotes ? Tyndale , Works, II. 215. flots (flots), n . pl . [F., pl. of flot , a wave, fluctus , a wave: see float , n.] Loops of ribbon or lace arranged in rows, each row overlapping that below, so as to give to the material the appearance of little ripples or waves: a device often used in dre making, etc.