davit

noun

da·​vit ˈdā-vət  ˈda- 

: a crane that projects over the side of a ship or a hatchway and is used especially for boats, anchors, or cargo

Illustration of davit

Examples of davit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

It’s placed on a table that’s secured to scaffolds suspended by cranes or davit systems from the roof. —Stephanie Cain, Fortune, 11 Jan. 2024

The film also depicts some lifeboats being lowered on top of each other as Titanic sank lower and lower into the ocean, with people in the boats frantically sawing through the davit ropes with pocket knives to avoid collisions. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 6 Feb. 2023

One former officer said that a manual for a davit, a type of crane used to lower a search-and-rescue boat, was written in Norwegian. —Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 23 Nov. 2015

Another crew member was a Titanic obsessive—his endless talk of davits and well decks still rattles in my head. —Ben Taub, The New Yorker, 1 July 2023

Word History

Etymology

Middle English daviot, from Anglo-French, from Middle French daviet joiner's cramp, diminutive of david cramp, probably from the name David

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

davit

noun

da·​vit ˈdā-vət  ˈdav-ət 

: one of a pair of posts with curved arms having ropes and pulleys attached and used especially on ships to raise and lower small boats