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

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

From Los Angeles Times

Another message, posted by Mr Heath on the day of the Southport knife attacks, falsely said Ali Al Shakati was the perpetrator, was 17 years old and had arrived on a dinghy, and wrongly repeated claimed that witnesses saw him shouting "Allahu Akbar".

From BBC

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

Sahar has already sent a video of an inflated dinghy which, he has suggested, is “new”, available and being kept in a warehouse in the Essen area.

From BBC

Related Words

• life raft
• lifeboat
• rowboat
• skiff