1. A small two-masted sailing vessel used for coastal trading, especially in northern Europe.
Usage: nautical; historical; also spelled 'bylander'

Examples

• The bilander was a common sight in Dutch and Baltic ports during the 17th and 18th centuries.
• Merchants preferred the bilander for its shallow draft and ability to navigate narrow channels.
• The captain steered his bilander through the North Sea with practiced ease.
• Bilanders were smaller and more maneuverable than larger ocean-going vessels.