pinnace Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a boat for communication between ship and shore
tender; ship's boat; cutter.

F. pinasse; cf. It. pinassa, pinazza, Sp. pinaza; all from L. pinus a pine tree, anything made of pine, e.g., a ship. Cf. Pine a tree.

(Naut.) (a) A small vessel propelled by sails or oars, formerly employed as a tender, or for coast defence; -- called originally, spynace or spyne. (b) A man-of-war's boat.
Whilst our pinnace anchors in the Downs. Shak.
A procuress; a pimp. Obs. B. Jonson.