Kutter

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A small, fast sailing vessel with a single mast and a fore-and-aft rig, often used for coastal travel or work on the water
2. A compact one-masted sailboat of the type once used for carrying cargo, dispatches, or pilots along a coast
3. A light sloop-rigged craft designed for speed and handling, typically found in harbours and used for short coastal trips

Etymology: A kutter is a small, fast sailing vessel, and its name is closely tied to English "cutter," a boat that seems to cut through the water. The German "Kutter" and Dutch "kotter" name small fishing and coastal craft, and the three words are closely related, though the exact direction of borrowing is uncertain. The likely root is the English verb "cut," which suggests the sense of a boat slicing swiftly across the waves. Early cutters were built for speed and handling rather than cargo. Over time the name spread to naval vessels, revenue boats, and fishing craft, which is why the same word covers so many different boats across the languages.

Synonyms: cutter