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Glite Dictionary
wanigan

wanigan

1 9.9
A portable shelter or boat used to store supplies and serve as a kitchen for workers
  • noun
  • /ˈwɑːnɪɡən/
  • Archaic
translation icon : cabaña portátil
  • During their expedition, they relied on the wanigan to store food and cooking supplies safely.
  • wanigan purchases

Examples

  • After we launched it into the cold, dark waters, we quickly packed our wanigan for the trip and pushed off from shore.

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  • The workers gathered around the wanigan to prepare their meals after a long day in the forest.

  • He set up the wanigan by the river to keep the supplies dry while they worked nearby.

Synonyms

fishing boat
vswanigan
32 1.1

A boat used for catching fish that often has a space to keep the fish alive

is more about storing provisions or acting as a work kitchen than fishing
sampan
vswanigan
1 9.8

A small Asian boat that has a flat bottom and shelter and is moved by oars or a sail

functions as a mobile supply or kitchen especially for workers on rivers
workboat
vswanigan
1 3.4

A strong boat built to carry goods, equipment, or people for tasks at sea

focuses on storing supplies or serving as a kitchen rather than just transport
river boat
vswanigan
1 2.9

A boat that carries people or goods along a river

is used mainly for storage and cooking for workers rather than transport
donga
vswanigan
  • Australian
9.9

A small temporary building on a work site where workers sleep and rest

is movable and used also as a supply or kitchen on rivers
toolhouse
vswanigan
4.8

A small building where you keep tools

is mobile and doubles as a kitchen or boat for riverside workers
banca
vswanigan
  • Philippine
9.8

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

is instead focused on storing supplies or serving as a riverside kitchen

Surface Forms

wanigan singular
wanigans plural

Etymology

Wanigan probably comes from an Ojibwe word waanigan meaning 'container' or 'box'. Think of it as a small, portable 'wagon' or box that holds food and tools by the river, which is why a wanigan is a movable shelter or boat used to store supplies or to serve as a camp kitchen.