to sail; to float.-to fly swiftly; to pass over quickly; to hasten; to flit as a light substance.-to slip on the whelps or the barrel of a capstan or windlass; -- said of a cable or hawser.-to pass over rapidly; to skin the surface of; as, a ship that fleets the gulf.-to hasten over; to cause to pass away lighty, or in mirth and joy.-to draw apart the blocks of; -- said of a tackle.-to cause to slip down the barrel of a capstan or windlass, as a rope or chain.-swift in motion; moving with velocity; light and quick in going from place to place; nimble.-light; superficially thin; not penetrating deep, as soil.-a number of vessels in company, especially war vessels; also, the collective naval force of a country, etc.-a flood; a creek or inlet; a bay or estuary; a river; -- obsolete, except as a place name, -- as fleet street in london.-a former prison in london, which originally stood near a stream, the fleet (now filled up).-to take the cream from; to skim.