yacht

¹yacht

noun \ˈyät\

Definition of YACHT

: any of various recreational watercraft: as

a : a sailboat used for racing

b : a large usually motor-driven craft used for pleasure cruising

Origin of YACHT

obsolete Dutch jaght, from Middle Low German jacht, short for jachtschip, literally, hunting ship

First Known Use: 1557

Other Nautical Terms

avast, aweigh, flotsam, jib, keel, lee, port, starboard, stay

Rhymes with YACHT

aught, baht, blot, bot, clot, cot, dot, ghat, grot, hot, jot, khat, knot, kyat, lot, lotte, Mott, motte, naught, not, plot, pot, rot, scot, Scot, shot, skat, slot, snot, sot, spot, squat, stot, swat, swot, tot, trot, watt, Watt, what, wot

²yacht

intransitive verb

Definition of YACHT

: to race or cruise in a yacht

First Known Use of YACHT

1836

Other Nautical Terms

avast, aweigh, flotsam, jib, keel, lee, port, starboard, stay

yacht

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Sail- or motor-driven vessel used for racing or recreation. The term is popularly applied to large recreational engine-powered boats; the sailboats known as yachts and used for racing are usually light and comparatively small. Until the mid-19th century, yachts were designed along the lines of naval craft such as schooners and cutters. Yacht design was greatly affected by the 1851 success of the America in the race that established the America's Cup. In the 20th century, notably after World War II, smaller racing and recreational craft became more common. See also sailing.