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carrack (KAR-uhk) - n., a three- or four-masted European ocean-going vessel of the 14th through 17th centuries.
Usually square-rigged fore and main, lateen-rigged on the mizzenmast, with a round stern and high fore- and aftcastles. Sometimes confused with a galleon, this was the prime vessel of the Portuguese and Spanish explorers and conquistadors -- two of Columbus's ships, his first voyage, were carracks (also called a nao or nau in Portuguese), as were all of Magellan's. Spelled carrake in Middle English, starting in the 14th century, from Anglo-Norma/Old French carrak or carraque, from Old Spanish carraca, probably from Arabic qarāqīr, plural of qurqūr, merchant ship, which might possibly be from either Greek kerkouros, light vessel, or Latin carricāre, to load a wagon.
---L.
Usually square-rigged fore and main, lateen-rigged on the mizzenmast, with a round stern and high fore- and aftcastles. Sometimes confused with a galleon, this was the prime vessel of the Portuguese and Spanish explorers and conquistadors -- two of Columbus's ships, his first voyage, were carracks (also called a nao or nau in Portuguese), as were all of Magellan's. Spelled carrake in Middle English, starting in the 14th century, from Anglo-Norma/Old French carrak or carraque, from Old Spanish carraca, probably from Arabic qarāqīr, plural of qurqūr, merchant ship, which might possibly be from either Greek kerkouros, light vessel, or Latin carricāre, to load a wagon.
---L.
