gondola

[ gon-dl-uh or especially for 1, gon-doh-luh ]

/ ˈgɒn dl ə or especially for 1, gɒnˈdoʊ lə /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR gondola ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a long, narrow, flat-bottomed boat having a tall, ornamental stem and stern and sometimes a small cabin for passengers, rowed or poled by a single person who stands at the stern, facing forward: used especially on the canals of Venice, Italy.

a passenger compartment suspended beneath a balloon or airship.Compare car¹(def 4).

an enclosed cabin suspended from an overhead cable, used to transport passengers up and down a ski slope or over scenic or treacherous terrain.

Also called gondola car. an open railroad freight car with low sides, for transporting bulk freight and manufactured goods.

a truck whose bed or trailer is a hopper, as for transporting mixed cement.

a freestanding structure for displaying merchandise in a retail establishment, as a supermarket.

a chair or couch having a gondola back.

Nearby words

goncharov, goncourt, gond, gondar, gondi, gondola, gondola back, gondoletta, gondolier, gondomar, gondwana

Origin of gondola

1540–50; < Italian < Venetian, probably < Medieval Greek kontoúra small boat used in coastal navigation, noun use of feminine of kóntouros short, clipped, literally, dock-tailed, equivalent to Late Greek kont(ós), kond(ós) short + Greek -ouros -tailed, adj. derivative of ourá tail

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for gondola

His servitor is seated on the steps of the landing, while the gondola appeareth to be empty.
The Bravo|J. Fenimore Cooper
Venier went out alone, while two or three walked with Contarini to his gondola.
Marietta|F. Marion Crawford
The picturesque "Gothic" boat house, now the gondola house, was built for his use.
The Book of Coniston|William Gershom Collingwood
The night watchman informed me that a gondola was awaiting me at the steps, and conducted me to it.
'Farewell, Nikola'|Guy Boothby

Presently they heard the wash of the water caused by the movement of a gondola beneath the window.
The Bravo|J. Fenimore Cooper

British Dictionary definitions for gondola

gondola

/ (ˈɡɒndələ) /

noun

a long narrow flat-bottomed boat with a high ornamented stem and a platform at the stern where an oarsman stands and propels the boat by sculling or punting: traditionally used on the canals of Venice

a car or cabin suspended from an airship or balloon
a moving cabin suspended from a cable across a valley, etc

a flat-bottomed barge used on canals and rivers of the US as far west as the Mississippi

US and Canadian a low open flat-bottomed railway goods wagon

a set of island shelves in a self-service shop: used for displaying goods

Canadian a broadcasting booth built close to the roof over an ice-hockey arena, used by commentators

Word Origin for gondola

C16: from Italian (Venetian dialect), from Medieval Latin gondula, perhaps ultimately from Greek kondu drinking vessel

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

gondola

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of gondola

Examples from the Web for gondola

British Dictionary definitions for gondola

gondola

noun

Word Origin for gondola