craft
n. C / Un. a boat, ship, or aircraft. You use this word when you want to talk about a vehicle that travels on water or through the air.
n. a vehicle designed for navigation on water or through the air. Often used as a collective noun or in compound forms like 'watercraft' or 'aircraft'.
The small craft sailed slowly into the harbor.
The coast guard spotted several small craft struggling against the heavy waves during the storm.
The harbor master is responsible for ensuring that all visiting craft, from modest fishing boats to luxury yachts, adhere to strict safety and docking protocols.
From Middle English craft (“strength, skill”), from Old English cræft (“strength, skill”), from Proto-West Germanic kraftu, from Proto-Germanic kraftuz (“strength, power”); further origin obscure. Cognate with German Kraft (“strength, power, force, energy, employee”) and Danish kraft (“strength, power, force”).
When referring to vehicles, the plural form is often 'craft' rather than 'crafts'.
Many small crafts were in the bay.Many small craft were in the bay.In a nautical or aviation context, 'craft' is usually its own plural.