cockboat

American  

[kok-boht] / ˈkɒkˌboʊt /

noun

1. a small boat, especially one used as a tender.

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cockboat British  

/ ˈkɒkəlˌbəʊt, ˈkɒkˌbəʊt /

noun

1. any small boat

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Etymology

Origin of cockboat

1400–50; late Middle English cokboot, variant of cogboot, equivalent to cog boat, ship (akin to Old Norse kuggi small ship) + boot boat

Example Sentences

"It would be more candid as well as more dignified," he said, "to avow our principles explicitly to Russia and France than to come in as a cockboat in the wake of the British man-of-war."

From Time Magazine Archive

"Oh, your servant, Captain, but I am an indifferent sailor; and I trust I have too much respect for myself and my new frocks, to crowd them into a river cockboat!"

From The Bow of Orange Ribbon A Romance of New York by Hampe, Theo.

When Robin-a-dale had also quenched his thirst the two left the forest, and together dragged the cockboat down the sand and launched it over the gentle surf.

From Sir Mortimer by Johnston, Mary

He was but a free lance of the polished "Detrimentals," and, under this last adverse stroke of fortune, his poor cockboat was being swamped in the black waters of adversity.

From A Fascinating Traitor An Anglo-Indian Story by Savage, Richard

It is no marvel if a proud three-decker sail round the globe; but very different is our astonishment if a cockboat come safely from the China Seas, or brave the stormy passage round the Cape.

From Davenport Dunn, Volume 2 (of 2) A Man Of Our Day by Lever, Charles James