yacht

play

noun \ ˈyät \

Definition of yacht

:any of various recreational watercraft: such as

a :a sailboat used for racing

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

See yacht defined for English-language learners

See yacht defined for kids

Recent Examples of yacht from the Web

Promoted by advertisements with famed supermodels having fun in the sun, guests paid hundreds–even thousands–of dollars for a tropical getaway which promised an exotic scene with yachts, villas, and fine dining.

— polly mosendz, Bloomberg.com, "Fyre Festival Founder Seeks Plea Deal on Fraud Charge," 2 Aug. 2017
From the muddy delta of the Indus to the barren Baloch coast, a twinkling constellation of attractions is set to rise: luxury hotels, water parks, golf courses, health spas, yacht harbours, night clubs, the works.

— The Economist, "One Lifebelt, One RoadChina makes Pakistan an offer it cannot refuse," 22 July 2017
The seed of the idea is twenty-five years ago, when my wife Emma and myself crossed the Channel on a small yacht with a friend of ours who owned a boat.

— adam grant, Esquire, "Christopher Nolan Wants You to Silence Your Phones," 19 July 2017
Earlier this year, Kendall Jenner did the impossible and made a pool float look more stylish than a million dollar yacht.

— ariana marsh, Teen Vogue, "8 Swimwear Looks With Matching Pool Floats," 3 July 2017
Metro Ports handles a wide range of bulk and breakbulk cargoes around the country, including aggregates, potash, coke, coal, cement, fertilizer, borax, bauxite, military, steel, wind energy, yachts and project cargo, according to the the Ports.

— karen caffarini, Post-Tribune, "Ports of Indiana names new bulk terminal operator," 2 July 2017
A new Porto Heli marina facility is set to open soon and will accommodate up to 149 yachts.

— hannah seligson, Town & Country, "Porto Heli Might Be Greece's Best Kept Secret," 30 June 2017
The yacht-board experience will also reflect its current hotel offerings, Ritz-Carlton said.

— chabeli herrera, chicagotribune.com, "Ritz-Carlton enters crowded field of luxury cruise lines," 27 June 2017
Ritz-Carlton is building three, 298-passenger yachts for its new Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.

— chabeli herrera, miamiherald, "Ritz-Carlton isn’t all about hotels anymore. Now it’s launching a cruise line," 22 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'yacht.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of yacht

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1557

See Words from the same year

Other Nautical Terms

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

yacht

verb

Definition of yacht

intransitive verb

:to race or cruise in a yacht

Recent Examples of yacht from the Web

Since leaving the White House in January, Barack and Michelle Obama have been yachting, eating gelato and enjoying the best of what the world has to offer.

— ashley hoffman, Time, "Michelle Obama Wished Barack Obama a Happy Birthday With the Sweetest Throwback Photo," 4 Aug. 2017

First Known Use of yacht

1836

Other Nautical Terms

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

YACHT Defined for English Language Learners

yacht

play

noun

Definition of yacht for English Language Learners

: a large boat that is used for racing or pleasure

YACHT Defined for Kids

yacht

play

noun \ ˈyät \

Definition of yacht for Students

:a small ship used for pleasure cruising or racing

History for yacht

In the 1500s the Dutch developed a kind of fast-moving sailing ship for use in coastal waters and river mouths. These vessels were called by the name jaght, short for jachtschip or jageschip in Dutch and German dialects—literally, “hunting ship” or “pursuit ship.” The word was soon borrowed into English as yoath or yaught. The spelling jacht or yacht became widespread after 1660, when the English king Charles II was given such a boat, dubbed the Mary, by the Dutch East India Company. The king chose to use the boat for excursions and racing, and the word yacht became attached to other vessels used for the same purposes.