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pinnace

American  
[pin-is] / ˈpɪn ɪs /

noun

  1. a light sailing ship, especially one formerly used in attendance on a larger ship.

  2. any of various kinds of ship's boats.

  3. a small 17th-century ship having two or three masts and a flat stern, used in northern Europe as a warship and merchant ship and as a tender.


pinnace British  
/ ˈpɪnɪs /

noun

  1. any of various kinds of ship's tender

"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

Etymology

Origin of pinnace

1540–50; < Middle French pinace < Old Spanish pinaza literally, something made of pino pine 1

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.

Though they dived on the Firth of Forth bridge and the naval base, the only things they hit were the Admiral's barge and a pinnace moored to the cruiser Southampton.

From Time Magazine Archive

On Apr. 4, the Prince will pay a short visit to this small enclave British possession on the west coast of Africa, landing at Bathurst in the bright-blue steam pinnace.

From Time Magazine Archive

He says the largest one is the Susan Constant, next in size is the Godspeed, and the smallest, a pinnace, is the Discovery.

From "Blood on the River" by Elisa Carbone

Now in James Town they were all in combustion, the strongest preparing once more to run away with the pinnace for England.

From "Blood on the River" by Elisa Carbone

The pinnace was a smaller description of galleas, while the row-barge is sufficiently explained by its title.

From The Sea: Its Stirring Story of Adventure, Peril, & Heroism. Volume 1 by Whymper, Frederick