kaiak
Definition
- Noun:
- A type of lightweight canoe: "kaiak" is a small, narrow watercraft traditionally used by the Inuit and other Arctic peoples, consisting of a light wooden frame covered with sealskin or other animal skins, with a single opening in the top for the paddler.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The Inuit hunter paddled his kaiak across the icy waters. (A small, skin-covered canoe used for hunting and travel.)
- Modern recreational kaiaks are often made from synthetic materials. (A contemporary version of the traditional watercraft.)
Advanced Usage
"to launch a kaiak": to put a kaiak into the water for use.
- They launched the kaiak from the rocky shore at dawn. (They began their journey by placing the canoe into the sea.)
"a kaiak expedition": a journey or trip using a kaiak, often for exploration or sport.
- The team planned a kaiak expedition along the Greenland coast. (A voyage undertaken in a small, covered canoe.)
Variants and Related Words
Kayak (n): the more common spelling and pronunciation of the same word; "kaiak" is an older or alternative spelling.
- She rented a kayak for the afternoon. (A small, narrow boat for paddling.)
Kaiaker (n): a person who uses a kaiak.
- The experienced kaiaker navigated the rapids skillfully. (A paddler of a kaiak.)
Synonyms
- Canoe: a light, narrow boat with pointed ends, often propelled by paddles.
- Qajaq: the Greenlandic Inuit word for kaiak, sometimes used in English contexts.
Phrasal Verbs
- Kaiak out: to exit a kaiak, often by rolling or tipping it.
- He had to kaiak out when the boat capsized. (He exited the canoe by turning it over.)
Related Idioms