jolly boat

American  

noun

1. a light boat carried at the stern of a sailing vessel.

2. a small pleasure sailboat for use in sheltered waters.

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jolly boat British  

noun

1. a small boat used as a utility tender for a vessel

2. a small sailing boat used for pleasure

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Etymology

Origin of jolly boat

1720–30; jolly < Danish jolle yawl ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

jolly boat

I know of a jolly boat as would just do.”

From Quicksilver The Boy With No Skid To His Wheel by Dadd, Frank

We saw the huge form of the lion contending with the 184 waves; attracted by the voices of men he was making every effort to reach the jolly boat.

From Hair Breadth Escapes Perilous incidents in the lives of sailors and travelers in Japan, Cuba, East Indies, etc., etc. by Arthur, T. S. (Timothy Shay)

The jolly boat was launched, and as it approached the land the man arose and coming down to the water's edge, shouted: "Be that you, Doctor?"

From The Story of Grenfell of the Labrador A Boy's Life of Wilfred T. Grenfell by Wallace, Dillon

When she was within three miles of the harbour, she lowered the jolly boat, the only one she had left, and it pulled in-shore with a flag of truce hoisted at the bows.

From Peter Simple by Marryat, Frederick

At the time the vessel was wrecked, she had four boats, the longboat, two cutters, and a dinghy or small jolly boat.

From Discoveries in Australia, Volume 1. With an Account of the Coasts and Rivers Explored and Surveyed During The Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, in the Years 1837-38-39-40-41-42-43. By Command of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. Also a Narrative Of Captain Owen Stanley's Visits to the Islands in the Arafura Sea. by Stokes, John Lort