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buoy

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buoys

Main Entry:: ¹buoy
Pronunciation:: \ˈbü-ē, ˈbȯi\
Function:: noun
Etymology:: Middle English boye, probably from Middle Dutch boeye; akin to Old High German bouhhan sign — more at beacon
Date:: 13th century

1: float 2 ; especially : a floating object moored to the bottom to mark a channel or something (as a shoal) lying under the water2: life buoy

[buoy illustration]

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