The consensus today is that it does stand for "carrier." The "V," however, simply refers to fixed-wing aircraft, meaning jets ...

This versatile, self-deployable aircraft offers increased speed and range over other rotary-wing aircraft, enabling Air Force Special Operations Command aircrews to execute long-range special ...

but achieve much faster flight than a helicopter by tilting the nacelles forward while in flight in a configuration similar to a fixed-wing aircraft. With the speed and range of a turboprop ...