yacht
n.-
1 pleasure boat (n.) B1 Intermediatea large boat with sails or a motor, used for racing or for relaxing on the water.
a medium-to-large vessel used for private cruising, leisure, or competitive sailing.
ExampleThey spent their summer holiday sailing a yacht around the Greek islands.
ExampleThe billionaire's luxury yacht was equipped with a helicopter pad and a small swimming pool on the upper deck.
UsageThe noun is countable.
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2 dice game (n.) C2 Proficiency Technicala type of game played with dice, similar to Yahtzee.
a specific dice game that served as a precursor to the modern commercial game Yahtzee.
ExampleWe played a few rounds of Yacht during our rainy afternoon at the cabin.
ExampleThe rules of Yacht are slightly more restrictive than its modern commercial descendants, requiring players to follow a specific scoring sequence.
UsageProper noun in some contexts.
Circa 1557; variant of yaught, earlier yeaghe (“light, fast-sailing ship”), from Dutch jacht (“yacht; hunt”), in older spelling jaght(e), short for jaghtschip (“light sailing vessel, fast pirate ship”, literally “pursuit ship”), compound of jacht and schip (“ship”). In the 16th century the Dutch built light, fast ships to chase the ships of pirates and smugglers from the coast. The ship was introduced to England in 1660 when the Dutch East India Company presented one to King Charles II, who used it as a pleasure boat, after which it was copied by British shipbuilders as a pleasure craft for wealthy gentlemen.
- Nounyacht
- Determinermy