pinnace

[ pin-is ]

noun

1. a light sailing ship, especially one formerly used in attendance on a larger ship.
2. any of various kinds of ship's boats.
3. a small 17th-century ship having two or three masts and a flat stern, used in northern Europe as a warship and merchant ship and as a tender.

pinnace

/ ˈpɪnɪs /

noun

1. any of various kinds of ship's tender

Word History and Origins

Origin of pinnace¹

1540–50; < Middle French pinace < Old Spanish pinaza literally, something made of pino pine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of pinnace¹

C16: from French pinace, apparently from Old Spanish pinaza, literally: something made of pine, ultimately from Latin pīnus pine

Example Sentences

Now in James Town they were all in combustion, the strongest preparing once more to run away with the pinnace for England.

From Literature

“He’s got a fast little pinnace hidden on the riverbank. He told me to say goodbye to you if he had to hurry away.”

From Literature

In one major shipment, 15 pinnaces carrying manuscripts left Timbuktu together.

From The Guardian

Tired, hot, and hungry they reached the spot where a naval pinnace was supposed to be awaiting them.

From Project Gutenberg

A steam pinnace landed him and his scanty belongings on the Gateshead side of the river.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• barge
• canoe
• catamaran
• craft
• dinghy
• gondola
• raft
• sailboat
• schooner
• ship
• yacht