A dinghy is a type of small boat, often carried or towed by a larger vessel for use as a tender. Utility dinghies are usually rowboats or have an outboard motor. Some are rigged for sailing but they differ from sailing dinghies, which are designed first and foremost for sailing.

Why is a boat called a dinghy?

A dinghy, pronounced "DING-ee," is a lifeboat found on board of a ship in case of emergency, but it can also be a rowboat used for fishing or just relaxing out on the water. The unusual spelling of this word reflects its exotic origins, in the Hindi word ḍiṅgī.

What is the purpose of a dinghy?

Rowboats or sailboats called dinghies are used to carry passengers or cargo along the coasts of India, especially in the sheltered waters around the peninsula. As a small ship's boat in other countries, the dinghy may be a rowboat but more often is powered and has a pointed bow, transom stern, and round bottom.