dhow

American  

[dou] / daʊ /

Or dau,

noun

1. any of various types of sailing vessels used by Arabs on the east African, Arabian, and Indian coasts, generally lateen-rigged on two or three masts.

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dhow British  

/ daʊ /

noun

1. a lateen-rigged coastal Arab sailing vessel with one or two masts

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Etymology

Origin of dhow

First recorded in 1795–1805, dhow is from the Arabic word dāwa

Explanation

A dhow is a sailing vessel used to transport heavy merchandise in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea. A dhow has a long, narrow hull and is propelled only by its sail. Historians aren't sure who invented the dhow — Indians or Arabs — but they do know the first ones appeared before 600 C.E. Today the term generally refers to all sailing ships in that region with one or two masts and triangular or quadrilateral-shaped sails. Dhows are commonly used to transport commercial goods like timber, fish, and dates between East Africa and the Persian Gulf.

Example Sentences

Flohr, 38, says her favorite adventure is sailing on a traditional Mozambican dhow, or fishing boat, to a remote island nearby, where a picnic awaits.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 9, 2025

Diamond spends several days tracking a suspect fishing vessel, or dhow.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2024

Navy forces ultimately determined the dhow was unsafe and unseaworthy and sunk the vessel “according to protocol,” the FBI agent wrote.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 23, 2024

The standard ship of the region, called a dhow, was a vessel made of coconut-wood planks sewn together with coconut fiber.

From Textbooks • Dec. 14, 2022

On the fifth day following the acquisition of the dhow, the Comoro Islands were sighted on the starboard bow.

From The Wireless Officer by Westerman, Percy F. (Percy Francis)