2. Light; superficially thin; not penetring deep, as soil. [Prov. Eng.] Mortimer.
FLEET Fleet, n. Etym: [OE. flete, fleote, AS. fleót ship, fr. fleótan to float, swim. See Fleet, v. i. and cf. Float.]
Defn: A number of vessels in company, especially war vessels; also, the collective naval force of a country, etc. Fleet captain, the senior aid of the admiral of a fleet, when a captain. Ham. Nav. Encyc.
FLEET Fleet, n. Etym: [AS. fleót a place where vessels float, bay, river; akin to D. vliet rill, brook, G. fliess. See Fleet, v. i.]
1. A flood; a creek or inlet; a bay or estuary; a river; — obsolete, except as a place name, — as Fleet Street in London. Together wove we nets to entrap the fish In floods and sedgy fleets. Matthewes.
2. A former prison in London, which originally stood near a stream, the Fleet (now filled up). Fleet parson, a clergyman of low character, in, or in the vicinity of, the Fleet prison, who was ready to unite persons in marriage (called Fleet marriage) at any hour, without public notice, witnesses, or consent of parents.
FLEET Fleet, v. t. Etym: [AS. flet cream, fr. fleótan to float. See Fleet, v. i.]
Defn: To take the cream from; to skim. [Prov. Eng.] Johnson.
FLEETEN
Fleet"en, n.
Defn: Fleeted or skimmed milk. [Obs.] Fleeten face, a face of the color of fleeten, i. e., blanched; hence, a coward. "You know where you are, you fleeten face." Beau. & Fl.