kayak English · revision 1762

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈkaɪˌæk/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is borrowed from an Inuit word ''qayaq'',^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) probably through Danish ''kajak'',^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) as spoken in Greenland,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) literally “small boat of skins”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The Inuit canoe, made of a light wooden frame covered with sealskins (1662 in the OED, but 1757, as ''kajak'', in Barnhart, Etymonline and Merriam-Webster).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word was later applied to any canoe developed from the Inuit kayak and used for touring or sport (1936).^(OED 1989)^(AHD)^(RHWU) The noun ''kayaker'' is from 1856^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and the verb from 1875.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1662 – the Inuit canoe (OED).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1757 – ''kajak'' (Barnhart, Etymonline, Merriam-Webster).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1856 – ''kayaker''.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1875 – verb.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1936 – a sports canoe of this type.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An Inuit [[canoe]] made of a light frame covered with skins, with an opening for the paddler, propelled by a double-bladed [[paddle]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A light boat of similar design, used for sport.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To travel or race in a kayak.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To travel on a body of water by kayak.^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[kayaker]]

+ * [[kayaking]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[umiak]]

+ * [[igloo]]

+ * [[canoe]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}