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yawl

1 American  
[yawl] / yɔl /

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.


yawl 2 American  
[yawl] / yɔl /

noun

British Dialect.
  1. yowl; howl.


yawl 1 British  
/ 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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

yawl 2 British  
/ jɔːl /

verb

  1. dialect (intr) to howl, weep, or scream harshly; yowl

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

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; cf. yowl

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.

At Noon the Yawl return'd with one Turtle and a large Sting ray.

From Captain Cook's Journal During the First Voyage Round the World by Cook, James

One morning at daylight Yawl sighted a sail—a large vessel a few miles astern of us, but a point or two more to the west, and on the same tack as ourselves.

From Mr. Fortescue An Andean Romance by Westall, William

This, however, was not known to Kidd and Yawl; I told him not to let them know; but whenever opportunity occurred to listen to their conversation, and report it to me.

From Mr. Fortescue An Andean Romance by Westall, William

Yawl, yawl, n. a ship's small boat, generally with four or six oars: a small fishing-boat: a small sailing-boat with jigger and curtailed mainboom.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

Kidd and Yawl were to sleep, turn and turn about, in a sort of dog-house which they had contrived in the bows.

From Mr. Fortescue An Andean Romance by Westall, William

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