kayak
UK: ˈkaɪ.æk | US: ˈkaɪ.æk
n. a narrow, lightweight boat with a covered deck, propelled by a double-bladed paddle
n. the act or sport of paddling such a boat
The word "kayak" originates from the Inuit (Greenlandic) word qajaq, meaning "hunter's boat." These boats were traditionally used by Arctic indigenous peoples for hunting and transportation. The spelling was adapted into English while preserving the original phonetic structure. As a loanword, it retains its monolithic form without separable morphemes in English.
He paddled his kayak across the tranquil lake at dawn.
She took a kayaking course to explore coastal caves.
The Inuit crafted kayaks from sealskin stretched over wooden frames.
We rented a tandem kayak for the afternoon.
Modern kayaks are often made of durable plastic or fiberglass.