umiaks
/ˈuːmiæks/
NOUN
1. Traditional Inuit open boats
Large, open boats made of animal skins stretched over wooden frames and propelled by paddles, traditionally used by Inuit communities for transportation.
1.1. Boats and watercraft
Watercraft used for traveling across water, especially open boats propelled by paddles.
Synonyms
- boats
- watercraft
- vessels
- crafts
- canoes
- paddleboats
- currachs
- curraghs
- coracles
- dugouts
- skiffs
- shallops
- rowboats
- rowing boats
- rafts
- sampans
- dinghies
- dories
- longboats
- pinnaces
- piraguas
- pirogues
Examples
- The coastal community relied on sturdy umiaks for their traditional sea journeys.
- Families gathered by the shore to launch their freshly crafted umiaks into the Arctic waters.
- The Inuit elders shared stories of challenging voyages in their resilient umiaks.
- The skilled craftsmen meticulously carved intricate designs onto the wooden frames of the umiaks.
- As winter approached, the villagers secured their umiaks in anticipation of freezing temperatures.