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pinnace

pinnace

1 9.9
A small boat used to carry people or supplies between a ship and shore
  • noun
  • /ˈpɪnəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : pinnaza
  • Aboard the Duke, Dr. Thomas Dover impetuously asks for the pinnace to be lowered and manned so that he can be rowed ashore.

Examples

  • A pinnace rowed out with lines, and the Vargaz was heaved sternfirst against a dock.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • The pinnace touched down, the docking arms and umbilical locked, and Hamish Alexander pushed himself up out of his comfortable seat.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Get away from the pinnace.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • It is obvious that the pinnace will have to turn back, and in the darkness may miss the ships altogether.

    Academic text (2002)
  • They queued up behind the lead pinnace, waiting their turns, and she tried not to let her relief show as she thought about them.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • They think at first that it is a lantern aboard the pinnace, but soon realize that the flare must come from a bonfire on land.

    Academic text (2002)
  • The sailors used the pinnace to transport supplies from the ship to the shore.

  • During the storm, the crew decided to send a pinnace to check on the damaged boat.

  • The pinnace sailed smoothly across the calm waters, making it easy to reach the island.

Synonyms

boat
vspinnace
1.0

A small vehicle used on water to carry people, like a rowboat or motorboat

is narrower, referring to ship transport or a light sailing vessel
cutter
vspinnace
18 6.1

A small fast boat often with sails, used to carry people or messages

focuses more on transport between ship and shore than on speed
small boat
vspinnace
13 1.0

A boat that is small and used for short trips on lakes or rivers

has the specific role of ship communication and can be a light sailing craft
tender
vspinnace
  • Specialized
5 6.6

A small boat that takes people or supplies to shore from a larger ship

is originally used for communication and also can be a light sailing vessel
longboat
vspinnace
  • Archaic
5 7.0

A large boat carried on a ship to move people or goods between ship and shore

is smaller and serves communication or light sailing rather than heavy cargo
gig
vspinnace
  • Specialized
1 9.1

A long narrow rowing boat used for racing or short trips

is usually sail powered or used for ship to shore communication rather than rowing
bumboat
vspinnace
  • UK
1 9.9

A small boat that sells food and goods to ships at sea

is used by larger vessels for general transport and communication rather than selling goods
ship's boat
vspinnace
  • Specialized
4.2

A small boat that a ship carries to move people between ship and shore

is also used as a light sailing vessel for communication with shore
jolly boat
vspinnace
  • Specialized
8.2

A small boat that a sailing ship keeps for the crew to move people or supplies

serves also as a light sailing or communication boat beyond simple crew tasks
batel
vspinnace
  • Archaic
9.9

A small wooden boat for rowing or fishing

is used more for ship transport or light sailing rather than old rowing use
banca
vspinnace
  • Philippine
9.8

A small boat with long poles on each side used for fishing and short trips

is a general ship support craft used for communication or light sailing, not regional

How Big

yacht
130 5.3
launch
36 6.0
pinnace
  • Specialized
1 9.9
rowboat
21 1.0
dinghy
18 4.8

Surface Forms

pinnace singular
pinnaces plural

Etymology

Pinnace comes from old French and Spanish words like pinace or pinaza that named a small, light boat used with larger ships, a handy craft for short trips. So a pinnace today is a small tender or light sailing boat used to carry people or supplies between ship and shore.