bidarka

American  

[bahy-dahr-kuh] / baɪˈdɑr kə /

Sometimes bidara or baidarka

noun

1. a sealskin boat used by primarily by the Alaskan Aleuts.

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bidarka British  

/ baɪˈdɑːkiː, baɪˈdɑːkə /

noun

1. a canoe covered in animal skins, esp sealskin, used by the Inuit of Alaska

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Etymology

Origin of bidarka

First recorded in 1825–35; from Russian baĭdárka, equivalent to baĭdár(a) “kind of river craft” (apparently akin to baĭdák “river craft, barge,” Old Russian baidakŭ, bodakŭ, of obscure origin) + -ka diminutive suffix

Example Sentences

With much shouting and gesticulation, one after another bidarka joined these, the hunter in each hurriedly casting off the lashings of his harpoon which lay along deck.

From The Young Alaskans by Hough, Emerson

With a shout he called to the others to halt, and presently, pushing the bidarka out into the creek, he paddled across to them.

From The Young Alaskans by Hough, Emerson

In reply to this the Aleut stooped down, went out of the door, and walked over to the bidarka, where it lay at the bank.

From The Young Alaskans by Hough, Emerson

Rob left the Aleut’s gun on the deck of the bidarka, but carried along his hide fishing-line and both the bidarka paddles.

From The Young Alaskans by Hough, Emerson

Except when wide yawns took it off its course, a bidarka was heading in for the beach.

From Brown Wolf and Other Jack London Stories Chosen and Edited By Franklin K. Mathiews by London, Jack