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.
The enthusiasm was apparent as the catamaran bobbed around the future site of Pier Wind, which recently received a $20-million grant from the California Energy Commission.
From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2026
Two other large ships, Isle of Lewis, Hebrides are away for scheduled maintenance or repairs, along with the chartered catamaran Alfred and a smaller ferry Loch Frisa.
From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026
The charter of the privately-owned catamaran Alfred - said to cost £1m a month - has now been extended to the end of May to maintain services.
From BBC • Mar. 3, 2025
A new Disney cruise ship has rescued four people from a sinking catamaran more than 200 miles from Bermuda.
From BBC • Nov. 11, 2024
A schooner, a catamaran freighter, and a yacht, all of them lying across a bridge at a separate dock.
From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi
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.
