DCHP-1 Online
catamaran ((n.)) 
1 † n. a small raft. See 1849 quote.
- 1845 . . . old and young, "off they come" from Miramichi from Acadia and the Oromocto, in shay and waggon, steam-boat and catamaran, on horse back and on foot, as best they can.
- 1849 Our plan was to construct a couple of catamarans or small rafts of spruce trees. The five logs for each catamaran were cut 8 feet long, and then a double row of auger holes were bored into the logs near their ends; cross pieces were laid between the holes; a withe of twisted hazel was passed through the holes and over the cross pieces, and was then firmly pegged down. A seat raised on pegs in the middle served to keep things dry, and this primitive craft was completed with 10 feet poles for propelling it.
- 1958 This . . . involved travelling by boat along the coast or by catamaran (raft) in the summertime and by komotick and dog team in winter.
2a Nfld a heavy sledge used in hauling lumber.
- 1819 The principal use of this animal [dog] . . . is to assist in fetching from the woods lumber . . . on sledges, or catamarans.
- 1842 The common dogs used in the catamarans . . . are of every variety of colour and fur.
- 1869 On they came in succession, five or six sleighs, or lumbering catamarans.
2b Nfld See 1933 quote.
See also: catamaran sledge slide (def. 4)
- 1933 Ed had a catamaran (a light sledge with wide runners) and a powerful hauling dog to help him.
- 1954 Send Us Your Specifications for Steel Slide Shoes for Komatiks, Bobsleds or Catamarans.
- 1845 . . . old and young, "off they come" from Miramichi from Acadia and the Oromocto, in shay and waggon, steam-boat and catamaran, on horse back and on foot, as best they can.