What does yawl mean?
Yawl denotes a small open boat, most often the boat carried by a larger ship and propelled by oars. Its use is strongly maritime: sailors might lower a yawl to carry people, messages, or stores between ship and shore. In older writing, the alternative form yole is common, and the word can carry a historical or literary tone rather than sounding like general modern vocabulary. Although it is similar in sound to yaw, a yawl is a vessel, whereas to yaw means to turn or veer, especially in a ship or aircraft. A rare older verbal use of yawl likewise means to yaw, but the noun is the word's established modern sense. The term is useful because it names a particular feature of traditional seafaring with precision, distinguishing a ship's small boat from a generic dinghy or tender. It also preserves a glimpse of English's Dutch maritime vocabulary and the specialized world of ships, oars, crews, and coastal travel.
A small open boat, especially a ship's boat propelled by oars.
"The captain ordered the yawl to be lowered."
Chiefly a maritime, historical, or literary term; yole is a traditional variant.
To yaw or veer, especially in a ship.
"The vessel yawled as it met the rough sea."
Obsolete and rare; the nautical verb is now normally expressed with yaw.
The standard plural is yawls; the older variant yole has the plural yoles.
"Two yawls carried passengers between the ship and the quay."
A yawl is the little boat that turns a stranded ship back into a working vessel, carrying crew and supplies between deck and shore.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does yawl come from?
Yawl entered English in the 17th century from Middle Dutch jole, a word for a small boat. The older English variant yole and the historical form jole reflect the same maritime vocabulary, which belongs to the Germanic family of Dutch boat terminology.
Related word forms
How yawl is actually used
The noun is chiefly maritime and historical, and often sounds literary in modern English; the variant spelling yole is particularly associated with older nautical writing. Its verbal use is obsolete and rare.
Easily confused with yawl
A yawl is a small boat, whereas a yowl is a loud, prolonged cry.
A yawl is a type of boat, whereas a yaw is a sideways turn or veer.