kayak

Also kai·ak,

[kahy-ak]

noun

1. a traditional Inuit or Yupik canoe with a skin cover on a light framework, made watertight by flexible closure around the waist of the occupant and propelled with a double-bladed paddle.

2. a small boat resembling this, made commercially of a variety of materials and used in sports.

verb (used without object)

1. to go or travel by kayak.

verb (used with object)

1. to travel on by kayak.

   to kayak the Colorado River.

kayak

/ ˈkaɪæk /

noun

1. a small light canoe-like boat used by the Inuit, consisting of a light frame covered with watertight animal skins

2. a fibreglass or canvas-covered canoe of similar design

Other Word Forms

• kayaker noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of kayak¹

First recorded in 1750–60, kayak is from the Inuit word qayaq

Word History and Origins

Origin of kayak¹

C18: from Inuktitut (Greenland dialect)

Example Sentences

Among the artefacts being returned is an Inuit kayak that had historically been used to hunt whales in Canada's far north, and a set of embroidered gloves that came from the Cree Nation.

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It interacted with several of the kayaks and even popped its head up to have a look at them for about 20 minutes.

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Some occupants escaped the fire by jumping from an elevated first floor, they said, adding that some had to be rescued from the backyard with kayaks.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Black film scout Striker takes an Antarctic cruise that winds up with passengers stranded on an island following a kayaking expedition.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Although Untamed Spirits specializes in women’s sports of all kinds — even the more niche ones like kayaking, Janie says — the bar also shows men’s sports.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• outrigger