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schooner

 - 3 dictionary results

schoon⋅er

[skoo-ner]
–noun
1. Nautical. any of various types of sailing vessel having a foremast and mainmast, with or without other masts, and having fore-and-aft sails on all lower masts. Compare ketch, topsail schooner, yawl (def. 2).
2. a very tall glass, as for beer.
3. prairie schooner.

Origin:
1705–15, Americanism; perh. scoon, var. of dial. scun scud 1 (cf. dial. Sw skunna, OE scyndan) + -er 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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schoo·ner   (skōō'nər)   
n.  
  1. A fore-and-aft rigged sailing vessel having at least two masts, with a foremast that is usually smaller than the other masts.

  2. A large beer glass, generally holding a pint or more.

  3. A prairie schooner.


[Origin unknown.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

schooner 
1716, perhaps from a New England verb related to Scottish scon "to send over water, to skip stones." Skeat relates this dial. verb to shunt. Spelling probably influenced by Du., but Du. schoener is a loan-word from English, as are Ger. Schoner, Fr. schooner, Swed. skonert. Said to have originated in Gloucester, Mass., shipyard.
"The rig characteristic of a schooner has been defined as consisting essentially of two gaff sails, the after sail not being smaller than the fore, and a head sail set on a bowsprit." [OED]
Meaning "tall beer glass" is from 1879, of unknown origin.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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