Feluccas

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of traditional sailing vessel commonly found in the Nile River, characterized by a lateen sail and a slender hull
2. These boats are often used for transporting goods and tourists along waterways
3. Known for their distinctive design, they reflect a long maritime heritage in regions such as Egypt and Sudan

Etymology: "Feluccas" is the plural of "felucca," a light sailing boat with a lateen sail and a narrow hull, still a common sight on the Nile. The singular came into English from Italian "feluca," which in turn was borrowed from Arabic "falūka," the name for a small vessel of the kind plying the waters of the eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea. The Arabic word is the more striking link: Italian sailors in the Mediterranean adopted it for a boat type they encountered in Arab trade, so a term from the Arab maritime world reached English by way of Venetian and Genoese harbours. The plural simply adds the English "-s" to the singular.