Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- any of various types of sailing vessels used by Arabs on the east African, Arabian, and Indian coasts, generally lateen-rigged on two or three masts.
noun
- a lateen-rigged coastal Arab sailing vessel with one or two masts
1799, original language unknown, “single-masted native vessel used on Arabian Sea,” later widely applied to all Arab vessels. Klein suggests a relation to Persian dav “running.”