umiak

Where does the word "umiak" come from? It comes from Inuktitut umiaq, and was adopted directly into English (1750s).

Umiak’s story begins in Inuktitut: umiaq meant “a large open boat covered in animal skin.” Named the large open skin boat paddled by women for transport and whaling. It reached English by 1750s as umiak. A women's boat, larger than the kayak. Today, umiak means a large, open Arctic boat traditionally covered in animal skins and used for transport or whaling.

1. Stage 1 · Inuktitut · pre-1700s umiaq "a large open boat covered in animal skin", named the large open skin boat paddled by women for transport and whaling.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1750s umiak "a large open Inuit boat covered in animal hide", a women's boat, larger than the kayak.