On Sat, 21 Aug 2004 16:40:04 +0200 (CEST), Nomen Nescio
] wrote:

Can anyone point me to websites that discuss the origins
of sailing vessel names?

Specifically, I am looking for the origins of terms such as
Sloop, Ketch, Schooner, Yawl, Bark, Frigate, Clipper, and
actual sailing vessel names, and NOT nautical terms.

Ketch from middle English, fishing boat
Sloop from Dutch sloep (ancient origin)
Schooner Unknown origin
Yawl - Low German jolle, Dutch jol (ancient origin)
Bark also Barque Italian barca through Provencal,
French, English "ship's boat"

Frigate Italian fregata, French fregate (ancient origin)
Clipper raked bows and masts compared to clipper (scissor)


As you can see, the question is comparable with
"What happened before the Big-Bang?"
in that most boat names predate all modern languages.

Brian Whatcott Altus OK