1. a small sailing ship or boat, typically used as a tender to a larger vessel
Usage: nautical; historical

Examples

• The captain ordered the pinnace to ferry supplies from the shore to the main ship.
• Pirates often used fast pinnaces to chase down merchant vessels.
• The naval expedition included three frigates and several pinnaces for coastal reconnaissance.
• Sailors lowered the pinnace into the water to explore the shallow bay.
• The pinnace’s shallow draft made it ideal for navigating rivers and inlets.
• Historical records show that Columbus used pinnaces to explore Caribbean coastlines.