polacre: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very RareHistorical / Nautical / Archaic
Quick answer
What does “polacre” mean?
A Mediterranean sailing vessel with three masts, each consisting of a single long spar.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A Mediterranean sailing vessel with three masts, each consisting of a single long spar.
Historically, a type of merchant ship commonly used in the Mediterranean, recognizable by its distinctive rigging where each mast is made from a single pole.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference. Both UK and US nautical/historical writing use the term with the same meaning.
Connotations
Connotes historical trade, the age of sail, and the Mediterranean region.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both varieties, appearing almost exclusively in historical texts or specialized maritime history.
Grammar
How to Use “polacre” in a Sentence
The [polacre] sailed into port.A [polacre] was sighted.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable in modern business.
Academic
Used in historical, maritime, or economic history papers discussing 18th-19th century Mediterranean trade.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used in precise descriptions of historical ship rigging and types.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “polacre”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “polacre”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “polacre”
- Spelling: 'pollacre', 'polaccra'. Using it to refer to any modern ship.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic historical term primarily found in nautical history texts.
No, it refers specifically to a type of sailing vessel used in the past, particularly in the 17th-19th centuries.
Its most distinctive feature is that each of its three masts is made from a single long spar or pole, without separate topmasts.
You would most likely encounter it in books about maritime history, historical novels set around the Mediterranean, or in museum descriptions of ship models.
A Mediterranean sailing vessel with three masts, each consisting of a single long spar.
Polacre is usually historical / nautical / archaic in register.
Polacre: in British English it is pronounced /pəˈlɑːkə/, and in American English it is pronounced /pəˈlɑːkɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None specific to this word]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: POLE + ACRE. A ship with masts like single POLES, working the ACRES of the sea.
Conceptual Metaphor
[Not applicable for such a specific, concrete historical object]
Practice
Quiz
A 'polacre' is best described as: