catamaran
Americannoun
-
a vessel, usually propelled by sail, formed of two hulls or floats held side by side by a frame above them.
-
a float or sailing raft formed of a number of logs lashed together, used in certain parts of India, South America, etc.
-
Canadian Dialect. a wooden sled.
noun
-
a sailing, or sometimes motored, vessel with twin hulls held parallel by a rigid framework
-
a primitive raft made of logs lashed together
-
old-fashioned a quarrelsome woman
Etymology
Origin of catamaran
First recorded in 1670–80; from Tamil kaṭṭa-maram “tied wood”
Explanation
A catamaran is a type of sailboat with two hulls that are parallel to each other and are joined by the deck. A catamaran's distinguishing feature is its two-part structure. It has two hulls that are side by side, linked by a single deck. Catamaran is one of a few English words that come from Tamil, and it was originally a simple boat with two hulls made from tied tree trunks. Now it can be a much fancier sailboat such as a yacht.
Vocabulary lists containing catamaran
This Week In Words: August 24–30, 2019
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Ship Breaker
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Merci Suárez Changes Gears
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Services from Troon, about 15 miles further south on the Ayrshire coast, will be provided by the new ferry MV Glen Sannox and the chartered catamaran Alfred.
From BBC • Jun. 12, 2025
"I went to the Isle of Man on a catamaran and I was seasick twice."
From BBC • Feb. 21, 2025
Off the coast of Rarotonga, the largest and most populous of the Cook Islands, a crowd of surfers, kayakers and swimmers gather around a large vaka, a traditional Polynesian catamaran.
From BBC • Dec. 9, 2024
Marine scientist Sharon Gray lives on a catamaran off the Florida west coast.
From Salon • May 24, 2024
His jacket had gone with the smashed sailboat, his handkerchief with the catamaran.
From "Abel's Island" by William Steig
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
