kay ‧ ak /ˈkaɪæk/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1700-1800 ; Language: Inuit ; Origin: qajaq ]
a type of light boat, usually for one person, that is moved using a ↑ paddle ⇨ canoe
—kayaking noun [uncountable]
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THESAURUS
■ types of boat
▪ yacht a large boat with a sail, used for pleasure or sport
▪ sailing boat British English , sailboat American English a boat that uses one or more sails
▪ rowing boat British English , rowboat American English a small boat that you move through the water with oars
▪ dinghy a small open boat used for pleasure, or for taking people between a ship and the shore
▪ catamaran a sailing boat with two separate ↑ hull s (=the part that goes in the water)
▪ trimaran a sailing boat with three separate HULLS s
▪ barge a large low boat with a flat bottom, used for carrying heavy goods on a canal or river
▪ canal boat ( also narrow boat British English ) a boat that you use on canals
▪ canoe a long light boat that is open at the top and pointed at both ends, which you move along using a ↑ paddle . Canoes are for one to three people
▪ kayak a light boat for one or two people, that is pointed at both ends and covered on top. A kayak has round holes on top in which the people sit, and you move it along using a paddle.
▪ punt a long thin boat with a flat bottom that you move by pushing a long pole against the bottom of the river – used for pleasure
▪ houseboat a boat that is specially made so that you can live on it
▪ pleasure boat a small boat, for example a sailing boat or a rowing boat, that people use on a lake, river etc:
People were out on the lake in pleasure boats.
⇨ ↑ ship