carrack

or car·ack

[kar-uh k]

noun

a merchant vessel having various rigs, used especially by Mediterranean countries in the 15th and 16th centuries; galleon.

Origin of carrack

1350–1400; Middle English carrake < Middle French carraque < Spanish carraca, perhaps back formation from Arabic qarāqīr (plural of qurqūr ship of burden < Greek kérkouros), the -īr being taken as plural ending

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for carrack

Historical Examples of carrack

Francisco and his bible are no more credible than the carrack and the bishop.
The Pirate and The Three Cutters
Frederick Marryat
In the sixteenth century the carrack often attained the size of 1,600 tons.
Ancient and Modern Ships.
George C. V. Holmes
In 1602 a Portuguese carrack of 1,600 tons was captured at Cezimbra.
Ancient and Modern Ships.
George C. V. Holmes
In 1594 a Spanish carrack was destroyed which had 1,100 men on board.
Ancient and Modern Ships.
George C. V. Holmes
"So I thought," pursued Mr. Carrack, rolling his eyes and heaving an infant sigh from his bosom.
Chanticleer
Cornelius Mathews

British Dictionary definitions for carrack

carrack

noun

a galleon sailed in the Mediterranean as a merchantman in the 15th and 16th centuries

Word Origin for carrack

C14: from Old French caraque, from Old Spanish carraca, from Arabic qarāqīr merchant ships

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

Word Origin and History for carrack

merchant ship, late 14c., from Old French caraque "large, square-rigged sailing vessel," from Spanish carraca, related to Medieval Latin carraca, Italian caracca, all of uncertain origin, perhaps from Arabic qaraqir, plural of qurqur "merchant ship." The Arabic word perhaps was from Latin carricare (see charge (v.)) or Greek karkouros "boat, pinnacle."