dinghy

[ ding-gee ]

noun

, plural din·ghies.

1. any small boat designed as a tender or lifeboat, especially a small ship's boat, rowed, sailed, or driven by a motor.
2. a boat used by warships, having four single-banked oars and a spritsail.
3. any of various rowing or sailing boats used in sheltered waters along the Indian coasts to transport passengers and freight.
4. an inflatable life raft.

dinghy

/ ˈdɪŋɪ /

noun

1. any small boat, powered by sail, oars, or outboard motor Also (esp formerly)dingydingey

verb

1. slang.
   tr to ignore (a person) or avoid (an event)

Word History and Origins

Origin of dinghy¹

1785–95; < Bengali diṅgi, Hindi ḍiṅgī, diminutive of ḍiṅgā boat

Word History and Origins

Origin of dinghy¹

C19: from Hindi or Bengali dingi a little boat, from dingā boat

Example Sentences

In March this year, he was among 22 people killed after the rubber dinghy they were in sank in the Aegean sea near Canakkale in Turkey, as they attempted to get to Greece.

From BBC

Heflin said, and found seven people floating on a dinghy away from the main boat.

From Los Angeles Times

The package included an inflatable dinghy with an outboard motor and 60 life jackets.

From BBC

Since Hamza contacted him, they have discussed how Sahar can help provide a dinghy to get to the south coast of England.

From BBC

They were shot at by border guards and she feared for her life when the overcrowded dinghy they were in starting sinking in the Mediterranean.

From BBC

Related Words

• life raft
• lifeboat
• rowboat
• skiff