# hoy

/ˈhɔɪ/ (US) · /hˈɔɪ/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hoy
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- 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 notes

- Commonly found in historical nautical literature; largely obsolete in modern maritime contexts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.