Definition

Noun: - A light raft made of balsa wood: "Kon-Tiki" refers specifically to a type of raft constructed from balsa logs, historically associated with a famous transoceanic voyage.

Usage

The word "Kon-Tiki" is a proper noun. It is used to name a specific historical raft and the expedition associated with it. It is always capitalized.

Examples

• Noun:
  • Thor Heyerdahl sailed across the Pacific on the Kon-Tiki.
  • The Kon-Tiki was built using traditional methods and materials.

Advanced Usage

• "Kon-Tiki expedition": Refers to the 1947 journey by Thor Heyerdahl and his crew from South America to the Polynesian islands on the balsawood raft , undertaken to demonstrate the possibility of ancient transoceanic contact.
  • The Kon-Tiki expedition captured the world's imagination.

Variants and Related Words

• Kon-Tiki (as an attributive noun): Used to describe things related to the raft or the voyage.
  • Kon-Tiki museum, Kon-Tiki theory

Synonyms

• Balsa raft: A more generic term for a raft made of balsa wood.
• Log raft: A general term for a raft made of logs.

Notes on Meaning

"Kon-Tiki" primarily refers to the specific raft used by Thor Heyerdahl. By extension, it can refer to the voyage itself or the theory of prehistoric migration it sought to demonstrate. It is not a general term for any raft.

Noun

1. a light raft made of balsa