What does «crucero» mean in Spanish?
- A cruiser (also called a protected cruiser) is a warship of significant power, but not the largest. The term dates back to the age of sail, although the usage differs even from the 20th century. Beyond that basic statement, the characteristics and functions of cruisers have varied greatly since the early 20th century, when the term was applied with some degree of formalism. The word cruiser was first used in English in 1651. Cognates in Dutch, Portuguese, and French meant "to cross," as when crossing from one side of a port entrance to the other to enforce a blockade, or crossing an ocean. The Navy's ship designation code for cruisers and, for historical reasons, aircraft carriers, begins with the letter "C". Aircraft carriers were originally called aviation cruisers, and several post-World War II ships, under various names, carrying more than a pair of helicopters may be reviving the aviation cruiser concept. One of the current challenges is that the definitions of the three types of warships-cruiser, destroyer, and ocean escort-have had shifting and overlapping definitions, and even an overlapping realization. The "frigate" of the age of sail had a role comparable to many modern cruiser roles, but a modern frigate is sometimes a lighter ocean escort than a destroyer or cruiser, perhaps in a merchant grade hull. Alternatively, there may be no practical difference between frigates and destroyers. At one time, destroyers tended to have a more powerful anti-air warfare capability, but the Franco-Italian Horizons are "air warfare frigates."