1. The act of attending for defense; the state of being so attended; protection; escort. To obtain the convoy of a man-of-war. Macaulay.
2. A vessel or fleet, or a train or trains of wagons, employed in the transportation of munitions of war, money, subsistence, clothing, etc., and having an armed escort.
3. A protection force accompanying ships, etc., on their way from place to place, by sea or land; an escort, for protection or guidance. When every morn my bosom glowed To watch the convoy on the road. Emerson.
4. Conveyance; means of transportation. [Obs.] Shak.
5. A drag or brake applied to the wheels of a carriage, to check their velocity in going down a hill. Knight.
CONVOY PENNANT Con"voy pen"nant. A white pennant with red border, carried : (a) Forward on all vessels on convoy duty. (b) Alone by a senior officer present during evolutions or drills, when it commands "Silence." (c) Over a signal number, when it refers to the signal number of an officer in the Annual Navy Register.
CONVULSE
Con*vulse", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Convulsed; p.pr. & vb.n. Convulsing.]
Etym: [L. convulsus, p.p. of convellere to tear up, to shake; con- +
vellere to pluck, pull.]
1. To contract violently and irregulary, as the muscular parts of an animal body; to shake with irregular spasms, as in excessive laughter, or in agony from grief or pain. With emotions which checked his voice and convulsed his powerful frame. Macaulay.
2. To agitate greatly; to shake violently. The world is convulsed by the agonies of great nations. Macaulay.
Syn.
— To agitate; disturb; shake; tear; rend.