Kayak
/ˈkaɪ.æk/noun
A light, narrow boat propelled with a double-bladed paddle.
Did you know?Kayak is an Inuit word, and the boat’s design was so culturally specific that early European writers often described it as a “hunter’s boat” rather than trying to translate it.
Etymological Timeline
Inuktitut / Inuit languages
Inuit
qajaq
“A small skin-covered boat used for hunting and travel.”
18th Century
Danish
kajak
“A borrowed form used by European explorers and writers.”
18th–19th Century
German/French/English
kayak
“The same Inuit boat, adopted into European languages.”
Modern English
English
kayak
“A narrow boat paddled with a double-bladed paddle, especially for sport or recreation.”