Bilanders

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of sailing vessel commonly utilized during the 19th century, characterized by its flat bottom and typically featuring two or more masts
2. Such ships were often employed for both cargo transport and fishing operations in coastal waters
3. A bilander is distinguished by its rigging and design, allowing for versatile use in shallow waters or near shorelines

Etymology: "Bilanders" is the plural of "bilander," a small sailing vessel that was usually rigged with two masts. The name comes from Dutch, most likely from "bij," meaning "by" or "near," and "land," meaning "land," so the sense is a ship that hugs the coast. That coastal character matches the work these vessels did, carrying cargo along shorelines and between nearby ports, and the Dutch and their neighbours used such craft heavily in the shallow waters of the North Sea and Baltic.