caique

Where does the word "caique" come from? It comes from Ottoman Turkish kayik, passing through Italian and French before entering English (1600s).

Caique’s story begins in Ottoman Turkish: kayik meant “rowboat.” From a Proto-Turkic root meaning "boat, oar". By 1500s, the word had taken hold in Italian as caicco. Named the small trading and fishing boat as it appeared on the Adriatic. From there it passed into French as caique / caïque by 1600s. Spread the word through Mediterranean seafaring vocabulary. It reached English by 1600s as caique. Entered English describing small boats of the Aegean and Bosphorus. Today, caique means a light traditional rowboat or small sailing vessel used in the eastern Mediterranean, especially around the Aegean and Bosphorus.

1. Stage 1 · Ottoman Turkish · medieval kayik "rowboat", from a Proto-Turkic root meaning "boat, oar".
2. Stage 2 · Italian · 1500s caicco "small boat", named the small trading and fishing boat as it appeared on the Adriatic.
3. Stage 3 · French · 1600s caique / caïque "light skiff", spread the word through Mediterranean seafaring vocabulary.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1600s caique "small traditional sailing boat", entered English describing small boats of the Aegean and Bosphorus.