Dahabiya
/dəˈhɑː.bi.jə/noun
A traditional Egyptian Nile sailing boat with a broad hull and lateen sails.
Did you know?The word comes from Arabic dhahabiyya, literally “golden” or “golden vessel,” although the name’s exact association with gold may reflect prestige or royal appearance rather than literal construction.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*ḏahab-
“Gold; the precious yellow metal”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
ذهب (dhahab)
“Gold”
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
ذهبيّة (dhahabiyya)
“Golden; a feminine form meaning “golden one” or “golden vessel””
Ottoman Period
Ottoman Turkish
dahabiye
“A Nile sailing vessel, borrowed from Arabic”
19th Century
English
dahabiye / dahabieh
“A traditional passenger or tourist sailing boat on the Nile”
Modern English
English
dahabiya
“An Egyptian Nile sailing boat, also spelled dahabieh or dahabiye”