Vaka
/ˈvɑː.kə/noun
A Polynesian canoe, especially a large canoe or outrigger vessel.
Did you know?Vaka belongs to a widespread Polynesian canoe vocabulary inherited from an older Austronesian term, linking languages separated by thousands of miles of ocean.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Austronesian
PAN
*waRqa
“Canoe or boat”
Proto-Malayo-Polynesian
PMP
*wakaR
“Canoe”
Proto-Polynesian
PPN
*waka
“Canoe or vessel”
Ancient Polynesian settlement period
Polynesian
*waka
“Canoe used for travel and voyaging”
Modern Polynesian languages
Tongan
vaka
“Canoe, boat, or ship”
Modern English
English
vaka
“A Polynesian canoe, especially an outrigger canoe”