1. a small crane on a ship used for hoisting and lowering boats, anchors, or cargo
Usage: nautical

Examples

• The crew used the davit to lower the lifeboat into the water.
• Each davit on the ship could handle boats weighing up to two tons.
• The davits were inspected regularly to ensure they functioned properly in emergencies.
• Modern ships have electric davits that can be operated remotely.
• The rescue boat was quickly deployed using the port-side davit.
• Heavy seas made it difficult to secure the boat back onto the davit.