yawl

¹

[ yawl ]

noun

1. a ship's small boat, rowed by a crew of four or six.
2. a two-masted, fore-and-aft-rigged sailing vessel having a large mainmast and a smaller jiggermast or mizzenmast stepped abaft the sternpost. Compare ketch.schooner ( def 1 ), topsail schooner.

yawl

²

[ yawl ]

noun

, British Dialect.

1. yowl; howl.

yawl

¹

/ jɔːl /

noun

1. a two-masted sailing vessel, rigged fore-and-aft, with a large mainmast and a small mizzenmast stepped aft of the rudderpost Compare ketch sloop
2. a ship's small boat, usually rowed by four or six oars

yawl

²

/ jɔːl /

verb

1. dialect.
   intr to howl, weep, or scream harshly; yowl

Word History and Origins

Origin of yawl¹

First recorded in 1660–70, yawl is from the Dutch word jol kind of boat < ?

Origin of yawl²

1300–50; Middle English; yowl

Word History and Origins

Origin of yawl¹

C17: from Dutch jol or Middle Low German jolle, of unknown origin

Origin of yawl²

C14: from Low German jaulen; see yowl

Example Sentences

The little boat was only twenty-five steps from the farmhouse, while the yawl was still distant about a hundred steps.

From Project Gutenberg

With strong and steady sweeps they drew near the boys and not many minutes afterward quickly dragged both on board the yawl.

From Project Gutenberg

Not long afterward a yawl was lowered from the boat and two men took their places at the oars.

From Project Gutenberg

In this way several bushels of potatoes and a lot of green corn were secured and placed by the natives in the yawl.

From Project Gutenberg

But when he found that all persuasion was useless, he bade his people fill the yawl with vegetables and such meat as was on hand.

From Project Gutenberg