catamaran

[kat-uh-muh-ran, kat-uh-muh-ran]

noun

1. a vessel, usually propelled by sail, formed of two hulls or floats held side by side by a frame above them.

2. a float or sailing raft formed of a number of logs lashed together, used in certain parts of India, South America, etc.

3. Canadian Dialect.,  a wooden sled.

catamaran

/ ˌkætəməˈræn /

noun

1. a sailing, or sometimes motored, vessel with twin hulls held parallel by a rigid framework

2. a primitive raft made of logs lashed together

3. old-fashioned,  a quarrelsome woman

Word History and Origins

Origin of catamaran¹

First recorded in 1670–80; from Tamil kaṭṭa-maram “tied wood”

Word History and Origins

Origin of catamaran¹

C17: from Tamil kattumaram tied timber

Example Sentences

From an outdoor terrace in a lakeside Alpine village, we watched catamarans and windsurfers lean into the wind and fly across the water below.

From Los Angeles Times

Services from Troon, about 15 miles further south on the Ayrshire coast, will be provided by the new ferry MV Glen Sannox and the chartered catamaran Alfred.

From BBC

The charter of the privately-owned catamaran Alfred - said to cost £1m a month - has now been extended to the end of May to maintain services.

From BBC

"I went to the Isle of Man on a catamaran and I was seasick twice."

From BBC

The chartered catamaran Alfred, which can carry 98 cars and cost only £14.5m to build, has been operating successfully on the Arran route for the past 20 months.

From BBC

Related Words

• raft 
• sailboat