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

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

The two men were part of a team that ultimately boarded the dhow of the ship, and seized an array of Iranian-made weaponry while facing off with 12 crew members, Central Command said.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 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

But, grave and inscrutable, the crew of the dhow carried on as if the unseemly interruption was beneath their notice.

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