bidarka

American  

[bahy-dahr-kuh] / baɪˈdɑr kə /

Sometimes bidara or baidarka

noun

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

---

bidarka British  

/ baɪˈdɑːkə /

noun

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

---

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

See Examples For:

bidarka

Mr. Jimmy puts on his kamelinka, and gets in the bidarka and ties the hood around his waist, and there he is, no matter how high the sea runs.

From The Young Alaskans by Emerson Hough

It’s lucky we’ve so good a sea-boat along as this dory—it’s far safer than Jimmy’s bidarka over there.”

From The Young Alaskans by Emerson Hough

There be room in his bidarka for two, and he would that thou earnest with him.

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

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 Emerson Hough

Once or twice he gently turned the prow of the bidarka, using the least possible motion.

From The Young Alaskans by Emerson Hough

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---