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 sailors took their 40-foot yawl J. Henry through the Panama Canal, turned south and prepared for a long Pacific crossing to the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia.

From Washington Times

In response to another negative comment, she wrote: “It’s tight on these kids right now. Let’s have a laugh and some compassion yawl !”

From Fox News

“Where yawl been? Around the world and back?”

From Literature

“Free college? Free medical care? How yawl going to pay for that? He’s a pie in the sky guy,” he said.

From The Guardian

Not only is Cheerio II, an 88-year-old wooden yawl, the oldest boat in the race, its skipper has been around the water even longer than it has.

From Los Angeles Times