Yacht

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /jÉ’t/

Definitions

  1. A large recreational boat used for luxury cruising or racing, typically owned by wealthy individuals
  2. A type of large vessel designed for leisure activities such as cruising or competitive racing, often associated with affluence and elegance
  3. A sizable boat intended for recreational purposes, including but not limited to racing and luxurious travel, commonly owned by affluent people

Etymology: The most surprising thing about "yacht" is that its first meaning was a warship. In the 16th century the Dutch built light, fast vessels to chase pirates and smugglers off their coasts, and they called them "jaghtschip," literally "pursuit ship," from "jacht" meaning "hunt" and "schip" meaning "ship." The English borrowed the idea and the name, first as "yeaghe" and then as "yaught," for a light, fast-sailing ship. The leisure sense came by way of royalty. In 1660 the Dutch East India Company presented one of these vessels to King Charles II, who used it as a pleasure boat. British shipbuilders then copied the design as a craft for wealthy gentlemen, and the pursuit ship became a plaything of the rich.

Synonyms: boat, vessel