dory
1 Americannoun
-
dories
plural
noun
-
dories
plural
noun
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of dory1
First recorded in 1700–10, alleged to be from Miskito dóri, dúri (if this word is itself not from English )
Origin of dory2
1400–50; late Middle English dorre, dorray < Middle French doree (feminine past participle of dorer to gild) < Late Latin deaurāta; see dorado
Explanation
A dory is a large, flat-bodied fish with silver scales and big eyes. Most dories are found in the deepest waters of the ocean. The term dory includes fish from several different families. One thing they all have in common is their silvery color, which explains their name, rooted in the Middle French doree or "gilded one." Another kind of dory is a small, light fishing boat. A dory typically has a flat bottom and wide planks on its sides, and is designed to carry a large, heavy load, especially considering its small size.
Vocabulary lists containing dory
The Boys in the Boat
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Peter and the Starcatchers
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Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy
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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.
See Examples For:
Everybody thought we were lying - this place was all hunky dory.
From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2025
When it comes to matters between the Carolina Panthers wide receiver and his coaches, things appear to be far from hunky dory.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 16, 2022
While everything has seemed hunky dory so far for England, Denmark have been powered partly by the strength drawn from their traumatic start to the tournament.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 7, 2021
Not that everything between those two is hunky dory.
From Slate ● Apr. 29, 2021
“It won’t make a bit of difference,” he said to Mr. Eason, rowing across in the dory.
From "Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy" by Gary D. Schmidt
But early on specified mornings, motorized dories and skiffs headed out to sea, fishing for the local quota of cod allowed for personal consumption.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 26, 2022
Bassi’s grandfather fished halibut back when schooners carried small dories out to the fishing grounds, which made the landing of a fish that can grow to 500 pounds all the more exciting.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 28, 2019
Sea kayaks, canoes, skiffs, powerboats, inner tubes, water skis, dories and dinghies lean against buildings and sit in driveways along Highway 169.
From New York Times ● Oct. 21, 2016
Others climbed aboard the hulls of overturned dories to replace planks.
From Washington Times ● Sep. 12, 2015
Since early in the eighteenth century, the London watermen had also made a sport of racing their dories in impromptu competitions.
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
