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DictionaryketchTwo-masted sailboat
noun

ketch

KETCH/ketʃ/

A sailboat with two masts, the rear one smaller than the front one.

The ketch sails across the bay with both masts visible.

A two-masted ketch sailing: large mainmast forward and a clearly shorter mizzen mast ahead of the rudder post, realistic rigging.
Etymology
ketchMiddle Englishfishing vessel

Earlier catch also meant “fishing vessel,” making a probable connection with the verb “catch.” The name later settled on a particular kind of two-masted sailing boat.

In context

Storytime Haven470:09
an outer reef, but Thalassa knew the passage, and steered the ketch through a tortuous channel
🌑 The Moon Rock 🌒 | A Haunting Tale of Mystery and Ambition by Arthur J. Rees

More examples

  • They live aboard a wooden ketch during the summer.
  • Two ketches lie at anchor near the harbor entrance.
  • Our ketch carries a smaller sail on its rear mast.

Forms

ketch · ketches

Similar words

yawl
Has its smaller rear mast behind, rather than ahead of, the rudderpost.
schooner
Has a front mast no taller than its rear mast.