jolly boat

American  

noun

1. a light boat carried at the stern of a sailing vessel.

2. a small pleasure sailboat for use in sheltered waters.

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jolly boat British  

noun

1. a small boat used as a utility tender for a vessel

2. a small sailing boat used for pleasure

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Etymology

Origin of jolly boat

1720–30; jolly < Danish jolle yawl ¹

Example Sentences

The jolly boat was launched, and as it approached the land the man arose and coming down to the water's edge, shouted: "Be that you, Doctor?"

From The Story of Grenfell of the Labrador A Boy's Life of Wilfred T. Grenfell by Wallace, Dillon

My jolly boat was on deck, and I was informed, all my rigging was disposed of.

From The Pirates Own Book by Ellms, Charles

And so it was a jolly boat in the literal, not the technical sense.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 09, No. 52, February, 1862 by Various

At the time the vessel was wrecked, she had four boats, the longboat, two cutters, and a dinghy or small jolly boat.

From Discoveries in Australia, Volume 1. With an Account of the Coasts and Rivers Explored and Surveyed During The Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, in the Years 1837-38-39-40-41-42-43. By Command of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. Also a Narrative Of Captain Owen Stanley's Visits to the Islands in the Arafura Sea. by Stokes, John Lort

They escaped to the jolly boat, saving nothing but their lives.

From The Life of Francis Marion by Simms, William Gilmore