Definition

1. Noun:
   • A large boat carried by a sailing ship: A "longboat" is the largest open boat carried by a merchant sailing vessel or warship, used for tasks such as transporting people and supplies, carrying anchors, or as a lifeboat.

Usage

• The primary use of the word "longboat" is as a countable noun to refer to this specific type of ship's boat, primarily from the age of sail.
• It is typically used in historical, nautical, or literary contexts.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The crew lowered the longboat to row ashore for fresh water.
  • In the storm, the captain ordered the longboat to be made ready.
  • The merchant vessel's longboat could carry over twenty men.

Advanced Usage

• "To take to the longboats": This phrase can imply abandoning a larger ship in its boats, often in an emergency.
  • When the ship began to sink, they had no choice but to take to the longboats.

Variants and Related Words

• Launch: Another term for a large ship's boat, often used interchangeably with "longboat" in some contexts, though a launch can be powered.
• Cutter: A smaller, lighter ship's boat.
• Jolly boat: A small ship's boat, usually smaller than a longboat.
• Gig: A narrow, light ship's boat.

Synonyms

• Ship's boat: A general term for any boat carried by a ship.
• Launch: (As mentioned above).

Related Phrases

• Longboat race: A modern sporting event using rowing boats, named after the historical vessel.
  • The team trained hard for the annual longboat race.

Notes

• The "longboat" is distinct from a "longship," which is a type of Viking warship.
• Its use is now largely historical, as modern ships use different types of tenders and lifeboats.

Noun

1. the largest boat carried by a merchant sailing vessel