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)

canoed, canoeing 

1. to paddle a canoe.

2. to go in a canoe.

verb (used with object)

canoed, canoeing 

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. of the same tribe

verb

1. to go in a canoe or transport by canoe

Other Word Forms

• canoeing noun
• canoeist 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,

   1. to handle one's own affairs; manage independently.

   2. to mind one's own business.

see paddle one's own canoe.

Example Sentences

The softball and canoe slalom events will be held in Oklahoma City.

From Los Angeles Times

"And often, no sooner were you getting used to having him around, you would suddenly be alone... again," he added above a picture of a lone person canoeing in the sea at sunset.

From BBC

He's into rowing and canoeing, so he's got a rowing machine and he'll send me a picture of an hour and 29 minutes and it's just the whole game.

From BBC

Seventeen people have been rescued and a search is continuing for other passengers who were aboard the dugout canoe that was heading towards Spain's Canary Islands.

From BBC

In 2024, the first group of five Argentine students traveled to Lee Vining, where they and local students watched phalaropes along the shore, toured creeks and paddled canoes.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• kayak 
• outrigger