luggage-boat Obs. DCHP-1 (pre-1967)
THIS ENTRY MAY CONTAIN OUTDATED INFORMATION, TERMS and EXAMPLES
n.
a skin boat, 30-40 feet long, 4-5 feet wide, and 3 feet deep, having a flat bottom and narrowing at bow and stern, used for carrying freight and passengers and traditionally rowed by Eskimo women. [See picture at oomiak.]
See also: oomiak
- 1748  These Boats move very slowly, and are called Luggage-Boats, by those who use Hudson's Streights, this seem to be for the Convenience of transporting their Families and Provisions, as their Fishing and Hunting makes it necessary.
- 1820  (1963)  . . . the Indians spied an Esquimeau luggage boat coming in and waylaid the Esquimeau behind rocks. . . .
- 1885  The umiak is a flat-bottomed skin luggage boat, open at the top, generally rowed by women.