canoe

[ kuh-noo ]

noun

1. any of various slender, open boats, tapering to a point at both ends, propelled by paddles or sometimes sails and traditionally formed of light framework covered with bark, skins, or canvas, or formed from a dug-out or burned-out log or logs, and now usually made of aluminum, fiberglass, etc.
2. any of various small, primitive light boats.

verb (used without object)

, ca·noed, ca·noe·ing.

1. to paddle a canoe.
2. to go in a canoe.

verb (used with object)

, ca·noed, ca·noe·ing.

1. to transport or carry by canoe.

canoe

/ kəˈnuː /

noun

1. a light narrow open boat, propelled by one or more paddles
2. another word for waka
3. in the same canoe
   of the same tribe

verb

1. to go in a canoe or transport by canoe

Derived Forms

• caˈnoeing, noun
• caˈnoeist, noun

Other Words From

• ca·noeist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of canoe¹

1545–55; < French < Spanish canoa < Arawak; replacing canoa < Spanish

Word History and Origins

Origin of canoe¹

C16: from Spanish canoa, of Carib origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. paddle one's own canoe, Informal.
   1. to handle one's own affairs; manage independently.
   2. to mind one's own business.

More idioms and phrases containing canoe

see paddle one's own canoe .

Example Sentences

Last month, a wooden dugout canoe, packed with nearly 300 passengers, overturned and sank in the middle of the River Niger killing nearly 200 people.

From BBC

He added: "Moana 2 exhilarates with its tunefulness, and absolutely romps along from the moment the heroine gets off the island, bound for another adventure on her trusty outrigger canoe."

From BBC

"My mum came back with a two-man canoe despite not living near any suitable body of water," one Reddit user posted on a thread about things people had found.

From BBC

The decision to hold softball and canoe slalom in Oklahoma City, which has ideal facilities for those sports, has met with public pushback.

From Los Angeles Times

Out at the born-again lake, Coyote the junk dealer has contributed three kayaks and a canoe for anyone who feels like paddling.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• kayak
• outrigger