brigantine

[brig-uhn-teen, -tahyn]

noun

Nautical.

1. a two-masted sailing vessel, square-rigged on the foremast and having a fore-and-aft mainsail with square upper sails.

2. hermaphrodite brig.

brigantine

/ -ˌtaɪn, ˈbrɪɡənˌtiːn /

noun

1. a two-masted sailing ship, rigged square on the foremast and fore-and-aft with square topsails on the mainmast

Word History and Origins

Origin of brigantine¹

1515–25; < Medieval Latin brigantinus or Old Italian brigantino, originally, armed escort ship ( brigand, -ine ² ); replacing brigandyn < Middle French brigandin

Word History and Origins

Origin of brigantine¹

C16: from Old Italian brigantino pirate ship, from brigante _brigand

Example Sentences

To restore his health, he dropped out at age 19, in 1834, signed on to a California-bound brigantine voyage — as anyone would, right? — and returned to Boston whole in body if not in spirit.

From Los Angeles Times

Cortés deployed newly built brigantines with sails, oarsmen and cannon while blockading supplies of food and fresh water to the city.

From Los Angeles Times

Zebu is a registered historic traditional brigantine rigged tall ship and was declared the National Historic Ships regional flagship of the year for the north-west in 2020.

From BBC

En route, they had built a larger boat—a brigantine—appropriate for the ever-widening waters, and they were attacked by a tribal force that included women warriors.

From The New Yorker

A brigantine was moored off the island’s opposite shore, its sails hanging limp and useless.

From Literature

Related Words

• catamaran 
• craft 
• cutter 
• schooner 
• ship 
• skiff 
• sloop 
• vessel 
• yacht