/ding"gee/ , n. , pl. dinghies .
1. any small boat designed as a tender or lifeboat, esp. a small ship's boat, rowed, sailed, or driven by a motor.
2. a boat used by warships, having four single-banked oars and a spritsail.
3. any of various rowing or sailing boats used in sheltered waters along the Indian coasts to transport passengers and freight.
4. an inflatable life raft.
[ 1785-95; dingi, Hindi dingi, dim. of dinga boat ]