cockboat
Americannoun
noun
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"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
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 Charles James Lever
For himself, he should spend the night ashore; they might leave for him the cockboat, and with the first light he would come aboard.
From Sir Mortimer by Mary Johnston
Looking backwards we could see over the tops of the trees to the sea, the Gannet looking like a cockboat in the distance.
From A Lad of Grit A Story of Adventure on Land and Sea in Restoration Times by Percy F. (Percy Francis) Westerman
A cheer for the brave little cockboat arose from the English.
From To Have and to Hold by Mary Johnston
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