/ri gat"euh, -gah"teuh/ , n.
1. a boat race, as of rowboats, yachts, or other vessels.
2. an organized series of such races.
3. (originally) a gondola race in Venice.
4. a strong, striped cotton fabric that is of twill weave.
[ 1645-55; regatta, regata, perh. recaptare to contend, equiv. to * re- RE- + * captare to try to seize; see CATCH ]