carrack
or car·ack
[kar-uh k]
- a merchant vessel having various rigs, used especially by Mediterranean countries in the 15th and 16th centuries; galleon.
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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. 2018
Examples from the Web for carrack
Historical Examples
Francisco and his bible are no more credible than the carrack and the bishop.
The Pirate and The Three CuttersFrederick 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.
ChanticleerCornelius Mathews
carrack
- a galleon sailed in the Mediterranean as a merchantman in the 15th and 16th centuries
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Word Origin
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
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Word Origin and History for carrack
n.
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."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper