gondola
UK: ˈɡɒndələ | US: ˈɡɑːndələ
n. a long, narrow boat with a flat bottom and high ends, used in Venice
n. a cabin suspended from a cable, used for transporting passengers (e.g., ski lift)
n. a type of railroad freight car with low sides
The word "gondola" originates from Venetian Italian, where "gondo" referred to a boat, and the diminutive suffix "-ola" indicated a smaller or specialized version. The term evolved to specifically describe the iconic Venetian rowing boat. Later, it was borrowed into English and extended metaphorically to cable cars and freight vehicles due to their similar elongated, narrow shapes.
The gondola glided silently through the canals of Venice.
We took a gondola ride at sunset to enjoy the city’s beauty.
The ski gondola carried us smoothly to the mountaintop.
The old railroad used gondola cars to transport coal.
Tourists crowded the gondola station, eager for a scenic view.