Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Pinnace
Pin′nace
,Noun.
[F.
pinasse
; cf. It. pinassa
, pinazza
, Sp. pinaza
; all from L. pinus
a pine tree, anything made of pine, e.g., a ship. Cf. Pine
a tree.] 1.
(Naut.)
(a)
A small vessel propelled by sails or oars, formerly employed as a tender, or for coast defence; – called originally,
spynace
or spyne
. (b)
A man-of-war’s boat.
Whilst our
pinnace
anchors in the Downs. Shakespeare
2.
A procuress; a pimp.
[Obs.]
B. Jonson.
Webster 1828 Edition
Pinnace
PIN'NACE
,Noun.
Definition 2024
pinnace
pinnace
English
Noun
pinnace (plural pinnaces)
- (nautical) A light boat, traditionally propelled by sails, but may also be a rowboat. Pinnaces are usually messenger boats, carrying messages among the larger ships of a fleet.
- 1719, Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe:
- I cast my eyes to the ship, and there she rode, within little more than half a mile of the shore; for they had weighed her anchor as soon as they were masters of her, and, the weather being fair, had brought her to an anchor just against the mouth of the little creek; and the tide being up, the captain had brought the pinnace in ...
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