hoy
n. countable C2 Proficiency US //ˈhɔɪ// UK //hˈɔɪ// hoy
n. a small, heavy boat used to carry passengers or goods over short distances. You might see this word in old stories about ships and ports.
n. a small coastal sailing vessel, typically rigged as a sloop, used for short-distance transport of cargo or passengers. Historically significant in the 18th and 19th centuries for lightering and local ferry services.
The hoy carried the heavy cargo to the larger ship.
Before the bridge was built, a small hoy ferried travelers across the narrow channel every morning.
The harbor was crowded with various vessels, from massive merchantmen to the humble hoys that darted between the docks with local supplies.
Usage
Commonly found in historical nautical literature; largely obsolete in modern maritime contexts.