umiak
/ˈuːmiæk/
NOUN
1. A traditional Inuit open boat
A large, open boat traditionally made of animal skins stretched over a wooden frame and propelled by paddles, used by Inuit communities for transportation and hunting.
1.1. Traditional open watercraft
A boat or watercraft used for traveling across water, particularly a traditional skin-covered boat propelled by paddles.
Synonyms
- boat
- watercraft
- vessel
- canoe
- paddleboat
- craft
- dugout
- coracle
- currach
- curragh
- sampan
- skiff
- shallop
Examples
- Inuit families traditionally traveled in the sturdy umiak, navigating icy waters with skill.
- The community gathered to construct a new umiak for the upcoming hunting season.
- As the summer thaw arrived, the villagers prepared their umiak for whale hunting.
- Children were taught essential skills for handling an umiak, passing down generations of knowledge.
- The rhythmic paddling of the umiak echoed across the tranquil Arctic waters.