jolly boat

noun

1. a light boat carried at the stern of a sailing vessel.
2. a small pleasure sailboat for use in sheltered waters.

jolly boat

noun

1. a small boat used as a utility tender for a vessel
2. a small sailing boat used for pleasure

Word History and Origins

Origin of jolly boat¹

1720–30; jolly < Danish jolle yawl ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of jolly boat¹

C18: jolly probably from Danish jolle yawl ¹

Example Sentences

Case shot topgallant yo-ho-ho heave to jolly boat crow’s nest square-rigged.

From Seattle Times

Nevertheless, crewmates insisted that he ran a “jolly boat,” and on one occasion, after sinking a freighter off the coast of Ireland, Schwieger even paused to rescue a struggling dachshund from the wreckage.

From Washington Post

John, you shall have a bowl for a jolly boat to swim in; roll in here a puncheon of rum, a hogshead of sugar, shake an orchard of oranges, and let the Landlord drain his fish-pond yonder.

From Project Gutenberg

Both the sailors on board had been drowned, but the Captain himself had managed to make good his escape in the jolly boat.

From Project Gutenberg

When we had been about a week out at sea and all our plans were completed, we quietly made prisoners of the captain and first mate, put them in the jolly boat with provisions to last them for several days, and sent them adrift.

From Project Gutenberg