schooner
C1Formal (nautical), Informal (beverage container), Historical (pioneer transport)
Definition
Meaning
A type of sailing vessel with two or more masts, typically with fore-and-aft sails on all masts.
1. A large beer glass, typically holding about 425 ml in Australia or 500 ml in the UK. 2. A prairie schooner (covered wagon used by pioneers in North America). 3. A type of ice cream dish served in a tall glass.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word has specialized nautical, historical, and regional beverage meanings. The beverage meaning is particularly strong in Australian and British pub culture.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'schooner' primarily refers to a large beer glass (approx. 500ml). In the US, it's mainly a nautical/historical term for a sailing ship or covered wagon.
Connotations
UK: pub culture, social drinking. US: maritime heritage, historical pioneer travel.
Frequency
More common in UK/Australian everyday speech (re: drinks). In US, mostly found in historical/nautical contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The schooner [sailed/voyaged] across [body of water]He ordered a schooner of [beer/ale]The [adjective] schooner [verb]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “prairie schooner (covered wagon)”
- “schooner rig (specific sail arrangement)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare except in brewery marketing or tourism (nautical tours).
Academic
Used in maritime history, naval architecture, or historical migration studies.
Everyday
Common in UK/Australia when ordering beer; otherwise specialized.
Technical
Specific rigging configuration in sailing: fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We saw a big schooner in the harbour.
- He drank a schooner of beer.
- The historic schooner offers tours around the bay.
- In Australia, a schooner is smaller than a pint.
- The three-masted schooner was renowned for its speed in the tea trade.
- They served the ale in a frosty schooner glass.
- The prairie schooner became an icon of westward expansion in the 19th century.
- Maritime archaeologists are studying the wreck of a 17th-century schooner.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SCHOOLner: Imagine a sailing SCHOOL on a ship with two masts.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPEED/EFFICIENCY (schooners were fast merchant vessels) → CONTAINER (for beverages)
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводите как 'шхуна' в контексте напитков (это 'большая пивная кружка').
- В американском историческом контексте может означать 'крытый фургон' (prairie schooner).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'schooner' for any sailing boat (specific rig type).
- Assuming it means the same glass size worldwide (varies by country).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'schooner' LEAST likely be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the country. In the UK, a schooner (500ml) is smaller than a pint (568ml). In some Australian states, a schooner (425ml) is also smaller.
No, only if it has fore-and-aft sails on both masts. A ketch or yawl has a different mast configuration.
Because its white canvas cover resembled a ship's sails 'sailing' across the grassy prairie sea.
Very rarely. There's an obscure nautical term 'to schooner' meaning to sail in or equip as a schooner, but it's largely obsolete.