embarkation
(ɛmbɑːˈkeɪʃən)
Also 6–9 -cation, 8 imbarkation, -cation.
[a. F. embarcation, f. embarquer embark v.1]
1. The action or process of embarking. lit. & fig.
| c 1645 Howell Lett. (1655) I. iii. xviii. 26, I can find no commodity of imbarcation at Saint Malos. 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. i. 23 Very sollicitous for the Embarcation of the Army. 1790 Beatson Nav. & Mil. Mem. I. 172 To hasten the embarkation of the troops. 1810 Wellington in Gurw. Disp. VI. 6, I shall delay the embarkation. 1869 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) III. xii. 222 The point of embarcation was close by the..abode of Godwine. |
| attrib. 1884 Pall Mall G. 16 Sept. 8/2 The embarkation list..will include twenty-three officers. 1899 Westm. Gaz. 9 Nov. 10/2 As the ship was about to sail, investigations were made, and..the embarkation officer went aboard to see the supply. 1904 Daily Chron. 6 Sept. 6/7 The embarkation staff at the port. 1923 Kipling Irish Guards in Gt. War I. 2 Every one was new to embarkation-duty. 1946 Koestler Thieves in Night iii. 322 And back home in Suffolk on embarkation leave he had listened to a sermon. |
† 2. concr. A body of troops embarked, gone or put on board ship.
Obs.| 1720 Lond. Gaz. No. 5877/1 The Transports..were taking on Board the third..Imbarkation. 1757 Burke Abridgm. Eng. Hist. Wks. X. 252 Another and much greater embarkation followed. |
† 3. A vessel, boat.
Obs. [
cf. F.
embarcation,
Sp. embarcacion.]
| 1690 Lond. Gaz. No. 2525/1 They have..taken divers..small Embarkations. 1705 Ibid. 4115/4 Sloops, and other Imbarcations. 1781 Rennell in Phil. Trans. LXXI. 106 Embarkations..traverse the inundation. 1804 H. T. Colebrooke Husb. of Bengal (1806) 10 The peasants repairing to the market..on embarkations. 1807 Southey Espriella's Lett. (1814) II. 179 A..rotten and crazy embarkation. |