catamaran
Americannoun
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a vessel, usually propelled by sail, formed of two hulls or floats held side by side by a frame above them.
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a float or sailing raft formed of a number of logs lashed together, used in certain parts of India, South America, etc.
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Canadian Dialect. a wooden sled.
noun
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a sailing, or sometimes motored, vessel with twin hulls held parallel by a rigid framework
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a primitive raft made of logs lashed together
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old-fashioned a quarrelsome woman
Etymology
Origin of catamaran
First recorded in 1670–80; from Tamil kaṭṭa-maram “tied wood”
Explanation
A catamaran is a type of sailboat with two hulls that are parallel to each other and are joined by the deck. A catamaran's distinguishing feature is its two-part structure. It has two hulls that are side by side, linked by a single deck. Catamaran is one of a few English words that come from Tamil, and it was originally a simple boat with two hulls made from tied tree trunks. Now it can be a much fancier sailboat such as a yacht.
Vocabulary lists containing catamaran
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Five out of CalMac's 11 major vessels remain out of action along with the chartered catamaran Alfred and two smaller ferries, either due to faults or scheduled maintenance.
From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026
She also started getting "funny pains on my arm" on the catamaran, that turned out to be the first signs of a heart attack, so she is "not a fan of boats".
From BBC • Feb. 21, 2025
A spokesperson for Dickie's Marine Services, which operates the facility, said the blaze started on a catamaran which was out of the water at the time.
From BBC • Jul. 13, 2024
Marine scientist Sharon Gray lives on a catamaran off the Florida west coast.
From Salon • May 24, 2024
The agent crept back to the catamaran stashed behind the rocks and paddled through rough surf to the far side of the island.
From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
