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LAUNCH

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Originally appearing in Volume V16, Page 282 of the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.
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LAUNCH . (1) A verb meaning originally to hurl, See also:

discharge a missile or other See also:object, also to See also:rush or shoot out suddenly or rapidly. It is particularly used of the setting afloat a See also:vessel from the See also:stocks on which she has been built. The word is an See also:adaptation of O. Fr. lancher, lancier, to hurl, throw, See also:Lat. lanceare, from lancea, a See also:lance or See also:spear. (2) The name of a particular type of See also:boat, usually applied to one of the largest See also:size of See also:ships' boats, or to a large boat moved by See also:electricity, See also:steam or other See also:power. The word is an adaptation of the Span. lancha, See also:pinnace, which is usually connected with lanchara, the Portuguese name, See also:common in 16th and 17th See also:century histories, for a fast-moving small vessel. This word is of See also:Malay origin and is derived from lanchar, See also:quick, speedy.

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