noun
- Plural of jollyboat; small boats carried on a ship, typically used for transportation between the ship and shore or for other ship duties.
Usage: nautical; chiefly historical
Examples
- The crew lowered the jollyboats to ferry supplies from the merchant vessel to the dock.
- In the age of sail, jollyboats were essential for communication between ships at sea.
- The captain ordered the jollyboats to be made ready for the morning expedition.
- Several jollyboats were stored on davits along the ship's sides.
- The sailors rowed the jollyboats through the harbor with practiced efficiency.