dinghy

/ˈdɪŋi/

/ˈdɪŋi/

Other forms: dinghies

A long journey by sea requires a large ship, but if you’re out for an afternoon on the pond, you may want to take the dinghy, a small boat.

A dinghy, pronounced "DING-ee," is a lifeboat found on board of a ship in case of emergency, but it can also be a rowboat used for fishing or just relaxing out on the water. The unusual spelling of this word reflects its exotic origins, in the Hindi word ḍiṅgī. Be sure to remember to include the silent “h” when you spell dinghy.

Definitions of dinghy

1. noun

   a small boat of shallow draft with cross thwarts for seats and rowlocks for oars with which it is propelled
   synonyms: dory, rowboat

   types:

   rowing boat

   a rowboat

   wherry

   light rowboat for use in racing or for transporting goods and passengers in inland waters and harbors

   type of:

   small boat

   a boat that is small