Naval vocabulary changed with time. In the Napoleonic era, frigates and corvettes could be called cruisers because cruising described their employment before 'cruiser' became a formal vessel type. The cruiser classification is relatively recent, and the destroyer is newer. A tentative comparison of ocean, offshore, and overseas patrol vessel expansions for OPV reinforces the point: naval labels have to be read in their own period.
Notable Point · 17:41-18:34
"Cruiser" began as a role before it became a ship type
Napoleonic frigates could be cruisers because they went cruising, while cruiser, destroyer, and patrol-vessel classifications developed later.