davit

/'dævit/

Friendly

Word: Davit

Part of Speech: Noun

Usage Instructions:

• Basic Usage: When talking about ships, you can say, "The lifeboat was lowered using the davit."
• Context: You will often find davits on larger boats, where safety equipment is needed, like lifeboats.

Example Sentence:

• "During the safety drill, the crew practiced using the davit to lower the lifeboat into the sea."

Advanced Usage:

• In maritime language, you might hear terms like "swing-out davits" or "gravity davits," which refer to specific types of davits designed for different functions.

Word Variants:

• Davit System: Refers to the entire setup of davits and associated equipment.

Different Meanings:

• While primarily used in maritime contexts, "davit" does not have many other meanings outside of this field. It is very specific to lifting equipment.

Synonyms:

• Crane (in a broader sense)
• Hoist (though a hoist can be used in many contexts, not just maritime)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• No common idioms or phrasal verbs directly relate to "davit." However, you might hear phrases like "to man the davits," which means to prepare to operate the davits.

Summary:

A davit is an important safety feature on boats, helping to manage lifeboats and other heavy equipment.

Academic

Noun

1. a crane-like device (usually one of a pair) for suspending or lowering equipment (as a lifeboat)