noun
schooner
skoo-nuh
Schooner (noun) means a sailing ship with two or more masts rigged with sails running front to back rather than side to side. Example: “The old schooner sailed gracefully into the harbor at dawn.”
noun
1
A sailing ship with two or more masts rigged with sails running front to back rather than side to side.
"In addition to the square-rigged sailing ships, the schooners were the second largest group of large sailing vessels."
— Otmar Schäuffelen, Chapman: Great Sailing Ships of the World (2005)
"The night was considerably clearer than anybody on board her desired when the schooner Ventura headed for the land."
— Harold Bindloss (1907)
"The old schooner sailed gracefully into the harbor at dawn."
"Unfortunately, anyone looking for a schooner today has limited choices. In the used boat market there are always some wooden hulls available, and occasionally ones of steel or aluminum, but fiberglass-hulled schooners are harder to come by."
— Donald Launer, Lessons from My Good Old Boat (2007)
2
A tall glass used for serving beer or sherry, the exact size varying by region.
"He ordered a schooner of lager at the pub."
How to use schooner
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a type of sailing ship with fore-and-aft sails, or a large glass for beer or sherry.
UK vs US
In Australia a "schooner" is a specific beer glass size (larger than a "middy" but smaller than a pint); usage varies widely by country.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- schooners
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old _____ sailed gracefully into the harbor at dawn.
Etymology
First recorded around 1715; likely from a dialect word "scoon," meaning to skim across water.
Class of 1715
schooner joined the language around 1715.
See the full Class of 1715 →
Rhymes for schooner
See all rhymes for schooner →Frequently asked questions
What does “schooner” mean?
The word “schooner” means a sailing ship with two or more masts rigged with sails running front to back rather than side to side. In plain terms, either a type of sailing ship with fore-and-aft sails, or a large glass for beer or sherry.
How do you pronounce “schooner”?
“Schooner” is pronounced skoo-nuh (/skuːnə(ɹ)/ in IPA).
How do you use “schooner” in a sentence?
Here is “schooner” used in a sentence: “The old schooner sailed gracefully into the harbor at dawn.”
What part of speech is “schooner”?
“Schooner” is a noun.
Where does the word “schooner” come from?
The word “schooner” dates back to around 1715. First recorded around 1715; likely from a dialect word "scoon," meaning to skim across water.
How many meanings does “schooner” have?
“Schooner” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sailing ship with two or more masts rigged with sails running front to back rather than side to side.
