boat, ship

boat, ship
A boat is a small vessel, one propelled by oars, sails, or an outboard motor: "We rowed our boat to a nearby island." A ship is a large or seagoing craft, powered by engines or sails: "The ship required five days to cross the Atlantic." This distinction breaks down, however, in such terms as ferryboat and PT boat. Strictly speaking, one would go to Europe by ship, not by boat; yet this usage is often ignored by even educated speakers and writers. If in doubt, say vessel or even craft and avoid any possible confusion. It may also help to remember that an airplane is sometimes referred to as a ship, not a boat.

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

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  • boat - ship — ◊ boat A boat is a small vessel for travelling on water, especially one that carries only a few people. John took me down the river in the old boat. ...a fishing boat. ◊ ship A larger vessel is usually referred to as a ship …   Useful english dictionary

  • boat — boat, vessel, ship, craft are comparable when they denote a floating structure designed to carry persons or goods over water. Boat is sometimes used as a general designation of such a structure but more specifically it is applicable to a small,… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • boat — (n.) O.E. bat boat, ship, vessel, from P.Gmc. *bait (Cf. O.N. batr, Du. boot, Ger. Boot), possibly from PIE root *bheid to split (see FISSURE (Cf. fissure)), with the sense of making a boat by hollowing out a tree trunk; or it may be an extension …   Etymology dictionary

  • ship — [ship] n. [ME < OE scip, akin to Ger schiff, ON skip < IE * skeib < * skei , to cut, separate (> L scindere, to cut), extension of base * sek , to cut (> SAW1): basic sense “hollowed out tree trunk”] 1. any water vehicle of… …   English World dictionary

  • Ship transport — Water transport redirects here. For the transportation of water, see Water transportation. Harbour cranes unload cargo from a container ship at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Navi Mumbai, India …   Wikipedia

  • ship — I. noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English, from Old English scip; akin to Old High German skif ship Date: before 12th century 1. a. a large seagoing vessel b. a sailing vessel having a bowsprit and usually three masts each… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • ship — [[t]ʃɪp[/t]] n. v. shipped, ship•ping 1) naut. navig. a vessel, esp. a large oceangoing one propelled by sails or engines 2) naut. navig. a sailing vessel square rigged on all of three or more masts, having jibs, staysails, and a spanker on the… …   From formal English to slang

  • ship — See boat. See boat, ship …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • boat — See boat, ship …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • Boat building — Boat building, one of the oldest branches of engineering, is concerned with constructing the hulls of boats and, for sailboats, the masts, spars and rigging.Parts* Bow the front and generally sharp end of the hull. It is designed to reduce the… …   Wikipedia

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