Schooner
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 A sailing ship with two or more masts, all with fore-and-aft sails; if two masted, having a foremast and a mainmast.
"The night was considerably clearer than anybody on board her desired when the schooner Ventura headed for the land."
- 2 sailing vessel used in former times wordnet
- 3 A glass for drinking a large measure of sherry. UK
"Boycott any pub that bans work clothes, allows customers to reserve tables or only sells beer in schooners. That is less a pub, more a private members’ club."
- 4 a large beer glass wordnet
- 5 A glass of beer, of a size which varies between states (Wikipedia). Australia
"Foaming schooners of beer grew ever larger and more numerous as the crimson February suns went to their rest."
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- 6 A large goblet or drinking glass, used for lager or ale (Wikipedia). US
- 7 A covered wagon used by emigrants. historical
Example
More examples""I sailed around the Mediterranean in a schooner when I was seventeen," she recited slowly and carefully."
Etymology
Attested ca. 1715, of uncertain origin. Said to be derived from dialectal scoon (“to skim over water”). Compare also shunt (“to cause to move (suddenly)”).
Related phrases
More for "schooner"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.