The AI-powered English dictionary
plural flotillas
(nautical) A small fleet of warships (usually of the same class), or a fleet of small ships. quotations examples
Toward the horizon a flotilla of fishing-boats showed immutable, pink-lacquered by the evening sun.
1919, Ronald Firbank, Valmouth, Duckworth, hardback edition, page 102
Driven from their home system by the geth nearly three centuries ago, most quarians now live aboard the Migrant Fleet, a flotilla of fifty thousand vessels ranging in size from passenger shuttles to mobile space stations.Home to 17 million quarians, the flotilla understandably has scarce resources. Because of this, each quarian must go on a rite of passage known as the Pilgrimage when they come of age. They leave the fleet and only return once they have found something of value they can bring back to their people.
2008, BioWare, Mass Effect, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, PC, scene: Quarians Codex entry
(by extension) A small group of things or people quotations examples
After a few moments Chloe saw Rosamund walking toward them with a small flotilla of shopping bags.
2009, David Walliams, Mr Stink
flotilla of tiny ducklings
2021, Liz Trenow, The Secrets of the Lake