A variant or diminutive form of frigate, historically referring to a smaller frigate or a ship of intermediate size.
From frigate combined with the diminutive suffix -oon, likely appearing in 18th-century naval terminology to distinguish smaller frigate-class vessels from full-sized ones.
This rare naval term shows how shipbuilders created specialized vessels for different purposes—a frigatoon might be faster but weaker than a full frigate, perfect for reconnaissance missions.
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