catamaran

[kat-uh-muh-ran] /ˌkæt ə məˈræn/
noun
1.
a vessel, usually propelled by sail, formed of two hulls or floats held side by side by a frame above them.
Compare trimaran.
2.
a float or sailing raft formed of a number of logs lashed together, used in certain parts of India, South America, etc.
3.
a quarrelsome person, especially a woman.
4.
Canadian Dialect. a wooden sled.
Origin
1690-1700; < Tamil kaṭṭa-maram tied wood
Examples from the web for catamaran
  • They may also have fastened two canoes together to make a catamaran, she says, with a deck of planks.
  • Guests choose either a two-hour morning or afternoon catamaran adventure cruise to view sea turtles, dolphins and whales.
  • Explore the waters on a kayak trip, catamaran cruise or parasailing adventure.
  • Visitors can explore the area in a kayak or aboard a catamaran.
  • The diverter is a unique stable catamaran design that consists of two hulls.
  • The interferometric swath transducer was sled-mounted on a rail attached between the catamaran hulls.
  • The catamaran hull gives the ship great stability in the water.
  • The second part of the day takes place on a catamaran when students collect and identify plankton and conduct water quality tests.
British Dictionary definitions for catamaran

catamaran

/ˌkætəməˈræn/
noun
1.
a sailing, or sometimes motored, vessel with twin hulls held parallel by a rigid framework
2.
a primitive raft made of logs lashed together
3.
(old-fashioned) a quarrelsome woman
Word Origin
C17: from Tamil kattumaram tied timber
Word Origin and History for catamaran
n.

East Indies log raft, 1670s, from Tamil kattu-maram "tied wood," from kattu "tie, binding" + maram "wood, tree."