What is a frigate?

A frigate was originally a small and fast rowing-sailing merchant ship, later a sailing warship. The term was used relatively generally in the 15th–17th centuries, similar to the word "ship" or "boat". It went through a long development until the 20th century. Today, it is a warship usually smaller than a destroyer and larger than a corvette.

Frigates were three-masted ships with a cross-sail on the foremast and mainmast and a lateen sail on the aftermast. At the front, they had a sloping bow, first with one cross-sail, then with another cross-sail on the foremast. Later, larger frigates also had cross-sails on the aftermast and three-pointed sails between the foremast and the bow - the orca and the jib.