barque
UK[bɑːk]US[bɑːrk]
n
A sailing ship, typically with three masts, in which the foremast and mainmast are square-rigged and the mizzenmast is fore-and-aft rigged.
n
A small sailing ship; a boat.
Etymology
The word 'barque' entered English in the 15th century from the Old French 'barque', meaning a small boat or ship. The French term derived from the Late Latin 'barca', which referred to a small craft. This Latin word is believed to have originated from the ancient Mediterranean, possibly from an Egyptian or Phoenician source for a type of vessel. The specific English nautical meaning, distinguishing a three-masted vessel with a particular rig, became standardized in the 17th century, showcasing a semantic specialization of the general term for a boat.
Analysis
The word 'barque' is a simplex loanword from French. It is not productively formed from smaller, meaningful English morphemes.
Examples
The old painting depicted a majestic barque sailing into the harbor.
They crossed the river in a small, weathered barque.
The barque's distinctive rigging made it easily identifiable among the fleet.